Dhan Saak Rice

Ingredients :

1. Toovar dal – 1 cup
2. Moong dal – 1 tbsp
3. Masoor dal – 1 tbsp
4. Val dal – 1 tbsp
5. Urad dal – 1 tbsp
6. Potato – 1
7. Brinjal – 1 small
8. Tomatoes – 2
9. Spring onions with leaves – 3
10. Fenugreek leaves – 1 small bunch
11. Red pumpkin (2” x 3”) – 1 slice
12. White pumpkin – 1 slice
13. Tamarind water – 6 tsp
14. Ghee – 4 tbsp
15. Onion (chopped) – 1
16. Salt to taste
17. Water – 7 cups
To be made into powdered masala (for dhan-saak):
18. Cardamoms – 3
19. Cloves – 2
20. Cinnamon – 3 sticks
To be ground into paste (for dhansaak):
21. Green chilies – 4
22. Red chilies – 8
23. Garlic – 10 cloves
24. Ginger – 1 inch piece
25. Cinnamon – 3 sticks
26. Cloves – 3
27. Peppercorns – 3
28. Cardamoms – 3
29. Coriander seeds – 4 tsp
30. Cumin seeds – 2 tsp
31. Chopped fresh coriander – 1 tbsp
Ingredients for the rice:
32. Uncooked rice – 3 cups
33. Onions – 2
34. Cinnamon – 2 sticks
35. Cloves – 2
36. Crushed garlic – 1 tsp (optional)
37. Sugar – 3 tsp
38. Ghee – 2 tbsp
39. Salt to taste

• Mix the dals and wash them.
• Cut the vegetables into big pieces.
• Mix the dals and vegetables, add water and cook in a pressure cooker.
• Sieve this mixture. If it is very thick, add a little water.
• Heat the ghee in a vessel and fry the chopped onions a little. Add the paste and fry again for 3 minutes.
• Add the dal mixture and salt and boil for 30 minutes.
• Add the tamarind water and sprinkle the powdered masala and cook for a few minutes.
For the rice:
• Chop the onions.
• Heat the ghee in a vessel and fry the onions a little or till golden brown.
• Add the cinnamon, cloves, crushed garlic and fry again.
• Add the rice, salt and enough water to cook the rice.
• Cook the sugar mixed with 1 tsp of water on a low flame. When it becomes brown, add to the rice while it is cooking.
• Put off the flame when the rice is cooked.
• Serve this rice with dhan-saak.