Dhansak is a popular Indian dish, especially popular among the Parsi Zoroastrian community.[1] It combines elements of Persian and Gujarati cuisine. In Parsi homes, dhansak is traditionally made on Sundays[2] owing to the long preparation time.
Dhansak consists of lentils, vegetables, spices, cumin seeds, ginger, and garlic together with meat and either gourd or pumpkin. Within the Parsi community, dhansak usually contains goat meat (mutton); it is rarely made with other meats, or without meat.
Outside of India, some variants of dhansak use pineapple chunks for sweetness,[3] however the traditional recipes never contain fruit, instead favoring the subtle sweetness of pumpkin, squash or gourd.