Chicken dhansak is a timeless Indian dish where the humble lentil is transformed into something wonderful. Overlay some big Bengali flavours and it might become a new classic.
Heresy? Maybe. But I like it. A lot. Because it’s just tasty. And it’s way easier than the original. That’s a dish meant for Sunday dinner. For special occasions. Serious business.
This is an easier version of dhansak
This is easy. Chicken dhansak for weeknights. Takes a while to get the lentils cooked. But other than it’s a snap. Make the lentils one evening. Set them aside. Finish it the next night. No rush. No pressure.
Or make it in a single evening. Totally doable if you start early enough. This chicken dhansak is a hurry up and wait kind of recipe. Most of the time is spent watching it cook.
Or doing other stuff. Lentils take a while to get to mush. And mush is where the magic is.
That mush is the sauce. The creamy coating that wraps every bite of chicken. Perfect for dipping Indian flatbreads into. Mush into magic. That’s what this is about.
Chicken dhansak with a bengali twist
The flavour profile is different from classic chicken dhansak. Bengali flavours. Mustard seed. Cumin seed. Panch phoran. I think the only thing that could make this more Bengali is if you put potatoes into it.
Panch phoran is going to take a trip to an Indian grocer. Count on that. But that’s always the case with Indian recipes. There are lots of other things to get. If you are getting into Indian cooking you will need to start collecting spices anyway.
Panch phoran is Bengali five spice. A blend of whole spices. Cumin. Mustard seed. Fenugreek. Nigella. Fennel.
Somehow these five spices come together into something that just works. Perfectly. Once you try it you’ll understand. It comes pre-mixed so just pick up the package labeled panch phoran and you are golden.
Bone-in chicken cooks in the lentils
Bone-in chicken makes a difference. And dark meat is always better for braised dishes. Two things you really need to stick to. Play with the spices. Try different things. But make sure that you use dark meat. On the bone.
The chicken cooks in the lentils. The juices from the chicken become part of the sauce. That’s important. Really brings it together. Puts the chicken into chicken dhansak. Boneless chicken breast just cannot compete.
Try the lentils after you add the tomato mixture. Then try it once the chicken is cooked. You’ll see. Before – lentil dish. After – chicken dhansak – Bengali style.
This is homestyle cooking. Not what you get in restaurants. What people cook for family. For good friends. There are lots of flashy restaurant style dishes on this blog – including a dhansak curry.
But sometimes comfort food is what you need. And this is comfort food. If you like Indian. And you like lentils. This chicken dhansak could be just what you need. Easy. And really tasty. How can you go wrong?
chicken dhansak – bengali style
Ingredients
The dal
- 1 1/2 cups masoor dal – red split lentils
- 4 1/2 cups water
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
The chicken dhansak
- 1 2 inch piece of cinnamon bark – also known as cassia bark
- 1 tsp brown mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp panch phoran – bengali whole spice mix
- 1-2 tsp kashmiri chili powder – depending how hot you like it
- 1 1/2 tbsp garlic ginger paste – make your own following the link below. It’s so much better than store bought.
- 2 medium tomatoes about 12 oz, diced
- 2 green finger hot chilies seeded and diced. Or one jalapeño, seeded and diced.
- 2 tbsp neutral oil
- 8 chicken thighs or 4 thighs and 4 drumsticks, skinless
- 1 tsp kosher salt to start – you will need more.
Instructions
Prepare the lentils
- Combine the lentils, water and turmeric in a pot large enough to hold the final curry. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils are mushy. You want to bring them to a boil uncovered and then cover when you reduce to a simmer. I’ve had lentils boil over more times than I care to mention. Messy stuff.
- Give them a stir every now and then while they cook. Sometimes they stick to the bottom a bit right when they get to the mush stage. Keep an eye on them. They will cook more with the chicken. Ultimately you want the lentils to fully disintegrate. A little thick at this stage is OK. The chicken will throw some liquid as it cooks.
Prepare the seasoning masala or tempering
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a skillet. Add the cinnamon and cook until little bubbles form around it. This takes 20-30 seconds.
- Now add the mustard seed, panch phoran and cumin seed. Cook until they start to sizzle. Again, this takes only a few seconds.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and add the diced green chili. Cook for 30-45 seconds.
- Stir in the garlic ginger paste and cook until it stops sputtering – around one minute. Now add the kashmiri chili powder and salt and cook for 20-30 seconds, stirring continuously.
- Mix in the diced tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes. You want to get them to where they are just starting to lose their shape.
- Add the tomato mixture to the lentils. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust salt. It’s easier now than when the chicken is in your way.
- Add the chicken to the lentil mixture. Cook until the chicken is cooked through. An instant read thermometer is good for this. You are going for about 170F in the middle of the thigh.
- Let stand for about 5 minutes. Taste for salt. Serve with rice and/or Indian flatbread like naan or chapatis or best of all parathas. Mmm… parathas.
Notes
Nutrition
Made this last night – I am really enjoying a “new” style of cooking using lentils – masoor dal in this case. I am quite intrigued with panch phoran as well. In short, once more a great recipe from Glebe Kitchen.
Awesome to hear! This one is one of my all time favourite dishes. I make it often.
Hey Romain,
This is yet another one of your recipes on my list. No list to the grocery store because I’ve made my own panch phoran. Is the Bengali spice profile home base for you, as opposed to any other region of India? Cheers, Alonna
Hope you like it as much as I do! I am half Bengali and I’m pretty sure I have mustard seed and cinnamon in my blood:-)
Can you please link to a panch phoran recipe in your recipes? I have found it once on your site and can’t find it again, I need to know the proportions as I can’t find the premade powder locally, thanks. Perhaps put it in your “primer” section?
Good idea. I don’t have a recipe to link post (although perhaps I should get to that). I have updated the Indian restaurant at home post to include panch phoran as you have suggested.
To save you a trip it is equal portions of cumin seed, brown mustard seed, nigella seed, fenugreek seed and fennel seed. It’s not a powder. It’s a mix of whole spices.
I made this last night ! Omg….gorgeous thank you so much for recipe will certainly making more of your delicious recipes
So happy to hear that. Hope you find others you like as much!
This is a really lovely recipe. I added a little tamarind and jaggery as I like a slight sweet/sourness in a Dhansak and some some yellow split peas for body and it really delivered on all levels. Certainly one of the better recipes out there.
Cheers.
Glad you liked it!
This looks really delicious! Dhansak is one of my favourite curries. Many thanks for sharing the recipe. Thanks.
You are very welcome.
I love the combination of chicken thighs and lentils! This looks so comforting and delicious!