Curry Recipes Online

British Indian Restaurant Recipes - Main Dishes => BIR Main Dishes Chat => Topic started by: LouP on February 21, 2015, 01:22 PM

Title: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: LouP on February 21, 2015, 01:22 PM
Hi Guys,
Any recipe ideas for using my dhal would be good. I was going to do Sober rats Dhansak but I have no pineapple juice, lime or shakkar.
Could I substitute with anything or should I just return the dhal to the freezer for another day?

Cheers, Lou :)
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: SoberRat on February 21, 2015, 01:32 PM
Hi LouP, you could use lemon juice instead of lime. The Shakkar is an unrefined sugar so I think a light brown sugar would do. As for the pineapple juice, I used stuff that was made from concentrate (longlife), not freshly squeezed. It would probably still be quite nice even without the pineapple juice, but I think the others are a bit more important. I only use lime because it just seems slightly more perfumed in smell and flavour. Thanks for trying the recipe and I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know how you get on.     
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: Secret Santa on February 21, 2015, 03:51 PM
I was going to do Sober rats Dhansak but I have no pineapple juice, lime or shakkar.
Could I substitute with anything or should I just return the dhal to the freezer for another day?

Not to denigrate SoberRat's version, which I think will be a fine version judging from the ingredients and picture, I still think you can't beat the simple white sugar and lemon juice combo - and I've tried many.

Having cut my teeth on London Dhansaks (not literally) where I'd never seen pineapple used I was mightily offended to find them in the dish when I moved further up North. Now I can take Dhansak either way and enjoy it so I don't think the pineapple juice (or pineapple pieces) are a necessity either.
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: SoberRat on February 21, 2015, 03:56 PM
I guess you could use just a little more white sugar. The only reason I decided to add the pineapple was the fact that some recipes have pineapple in. I have never had a Dhansak with it in either and if I hadn't seen it on this site I think I would have been shocked to find it in my curry, but it does seem to be a northern variation. 
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: LouP on February 21, 2015, 04:47 PM
Thanks Guys,
I have never had a Dhansak so will have nothing to compare it with. I wouldn't use pineapple chunks as I am not a fan of fruit (or nuts/raisins etc) in a curry.
We have decided to have a takeaway curry tonight but will make the Dhansak in the morning.
I live in staffordshire and the local takeaway menus say it has pineapple (bleugh) Love lentils though :)

Will let you know how it tastes tomorrow.
Thanks again  ;D
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: SoberRat on February 21, 2015, 05:25 PM
Enjoy your takeaway. Yes the lentils really add a nice flavour and texture to a curry IMO. Add to that the nice warming heat and...............oh dear, I think I'm off to the kitchen again.
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: curryhell on February 21, 2015, 10:27 PM
...............oh dear, I think I'm off to the kitchen again.
And that's exactly what this forum is all about.  Looking forward to updates on Dhansak or the results of your trip to the kitchen  :)
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: Naga on February 21, 2015, 10:36 PM
...oh dear, I think I'm off to the kitchen again.

Brilliant! I know the feeling well! :)
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: mickdabass on February 22, 2015, 05:07 PM
I've only tried dhansak once from our local bir and that contained a pineapple ring!
Not really my type of curry.
I'm not a fan of fruit in curries either, and it was almost ctm sweet too. Uuughhh
Regards
Mick
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: Secret Santa on February 22, 2015, 05:26 PM
it was almost ctm sweet too. Uuughhh

Yes, that's not right at all. It should be a fine balance of sweet and sour.
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: mickdabass on February 22, 2015, 05:37 PM
SS
There was a sour undertone to it but predominantly sweet in taste. Perhaps I should give it another try. Maybe the restaurant didn't quite get it right that night
The texture was interesting though. Didn't realise at the time that lentils were used.
Regards
Mick
 
Title: Re: Using my pre cooked lentils in a curry
Post by: mickdabass on February 22, 2015, 05:39 PM
I need to experiment more with lentils. I would like some veggie recipes in my arsenal