Chicken Dhansak
Serves 4

Sweet and Sour lentil curry, traditionally a vegetable curry, Dhansak meaning 'King Vegetable', but you can't go wrong with Chicken.
Ingredients
4 fresh tomatoes
quartered
5 fresh chillies
 Finely chopped
1 whole chicken breast fillet
sliced into your favourite shapes
1 large onion

finely chopped

1 cup of red lentils

Soaked overnight and rinsed

1 cup green lentils

Soaked overnight and rinsed
3 garlic cloves

finely chopped

1/2 inch block of ginger 
finely chopped 

1 tblsp fresh coriander leaves

finely chopped

2 tblsp curry powder

a medium powder / paste should do

1 teasp garam masala 

 
 1/2 fresh lemon
juiced
 1 tblsp sugar 
optional
Pinch of salt

to taste.

3 tablespoons ghee / olive oil

 

Tips.

Instead of just frying up the chicken, try making Chicken Tika and adding it with the coriander just before serving.. mmmm chicken tika dhansak...

Vegetarians, use your favourite selection of veggies instead of the chicken. Mushrooms and baby sweet corn always go down a treat and potatoes are great too.
Method

i)     Mix the curry powder and garam masala with just enough water to make a paste 

ii)    Boil up the lentils until soft and mushy - 20 mins, then drain them

iii)   Heat the oil in the wok ( medium / hot ) and fry the garlic and ginger for 2 mins. Add the onions and stir fry until brown and crispy. Add the curry paste and stir fry for a further 2-3 mins.

iv)   Add the lentils, chillies, tomatoes, salt, lemon juice and sugar and mix well, heat for 5 mins

v)    Put this concoction into a blender and blend into a smooth paste

vi)   Stir fry the chicken for 10 mins and then add the lentil mix and cook on a low heat for a further 10 mins. 

vii)  Add the coriander and serve with rice and / or nann

Thanks to the Curry Bible for this superb munch. Check it out at http://www.letscook.co.uk/bookcurrybible.html
Ring Rating - - Hot!