Chicken Dhansak is a rich, hearty dish that perfectly balances bold spices with the comforting depth of lentils. This classic Indian-Parsi curry combines tender chicken with a fragrant blend of warming spices, all simmered in a thick, flavourful sauce. This popular Parsi dish can be made with chicken or lamb, and you can even omit the meat altogether for a delicious vegetarian version.
The result is a beautifully spiced, slightly tangy, and subtly sweet dish that pairs perfectly with fluffy rice or a warm Shemin’s naan. Whether you’re a spice lover or new to Indian cuisine, this dish is a deliciously satisfying choice for any occasion.
4
Mild
Medium Our multi-award winning paste will be your new secret when it comes to Indian cooking.
3 tbsp cooking oil
500g boned chicken thighs diced
1 onion finely chopped
3 green cardamom pods
100g Shemin’s Indian or Goan Curry Paste
½ cup of water
400g can chopped tomatoes
500ml chicken stock
100g red lentils
1 tbsp brown sugar (optional)
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
3 tbsp yoghurt
Handful of chopped coriander
1. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large lidded ovenproof casserole pan. Season the chicken thighs and fry in two batches until browned. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
2. Add the remaining oil to the pan. Add the onion and fry gently for 10 minutes until it begins to soften. Meanwhile, bash the cardamom pods with the end of a rolling pin to split the husks and remove the seeds. Add the seeds, Shemin’s Indian Curry Paste and water to the pan, and cook gently for 4-5 minutes.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes, stock, lentils, sugar and vinegar to the pan, then add the chicken. Bring to the boil. Cover and cook in a conventional oven at 200°C (392°F, Gas Mark 6), a fan oven at 180°C (356°F), or a gas oven at Gas Mark 6 for 50 minutes or until the chicken is tender.
4. Stir in the yoghurt, check the seasoning and serve topped with coriander and some basmati rice.
Get free digital recipe book to master your curry nights!
Verified curry lover
After so many years the quality of your products remains true. Thank you team Shemins!
Verified curry lover
Many thanks as always, going to try out your new Tikka paste, after all these years it will be interesting to taste the difference Cheers, Syd Roberts
Verified curry lover
Have used fora few years now. Love it. Looking forward to trying the tikka curry paste
Verified curry lover
Great service and products thanks
Verified curry lover
Brilliant fantastic selection of everything
Verified curry lover
Love your pastes. We’re not adventurous enough with what we cook. Need to look at your recipe suggestions more
Subscribe to our Newsletter and we’ll send you our delicious recipe ebooks for free!
Thank you for signing up to receive tasty recipes and handy cooking tips from us here at Shemin’s! You should receive a link to the downloads page in your inbox shortly. If it does not arrive in a few minutes, please check your junk folder.
