Bisi bele bhat/Bisi bele anna/Bisi bele bath

 

               BISI BELE BHATH (with home made masala)

It is a traditional dish from Karnataka, a Southern Indian state. Bisi bele bhath is a spicy and slightly tangy meal made with lentils, rice, mixed vegetables and aromatic spice powder known as bisi bele bhath powder. It is a complete wholesome dish packed with plant based protein, fresh veggies and plenty of south indian flavors. Bisi means hot, bele means lentils or dal and bhath means rice.

Preparation time: 10 min

Cooking time 40 mins

Total time: 50 min

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients: 

Bisi bele bhath powder:

1.  Coriander seeds-2 tsp

2.  Chana dal-1 tsp

3.  Udad dal-1 tsp

4.  Cumin seeds-1 tsp

5.  Methi seeds- ¼ tsp

6.  Black pepper- 5 to 6 seeds

7.  Cloves-4 to 5

8.  Cinnamon (Dalchini)- 1 inch long

9.  Bedgi chilli- 7 to 8

Hing- ¼ tsp

Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp 

Curry leaves-7 to 8 leaves

For pressure cooking:

1.  Toor dal soaked 30 min - 1 cup

2.  Rice- 1 cup

3.  Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp

4.  Water- 4 cups

5.  Salt – ¼ tsp

For bisi bele bhath:

1.  Ghee- 2 tbsp

2.  Mustard seeds-1 tsp

3.  Bedgi chilli-2

5.  Peanuts- 2 tbsp

6.  Curry leaves-few

7.  Onion-1 chopped (optional)

8.  Carrot- 1 chopped

9.  Capsicum-1 chopped   

P  Potato-1 small diced  

G  Green peas- 2 tbsp

12.  French beans-4 to 5 chopped 

To  Tomato- 1 chopped 

T    Tamarind soaked in water-1/2 tsp

15.  Bisi bele bhath masala- 3 tbsp 

SS   Salt- to taste

17.   Water-5 cups

18.   Coriander leaves chopped for garnishing-1 tbsp

For tempering:

1.  Ghee- 2 tsp

2.  Cashew nuts-2 tsp

Instructions:

Bisi bele bhath powder:

Heat a heavy bottom kadai. Dry roast chana dal, udad dal, cumin seeds, methi seeds, black pepper, Cloves, Dalchini, hing, Coriander seeds, Bedgi chilli. Roast on a low flame until the spices turn aromatic. The spices should not burn. Turn off the flame. Allow it to cool. Add turmeric powder. After cooling, grind in a mixer, make fine powder of all the spices. This powder can also be used for making sambar or kolambo.  

     Bisi bele bhath:

1.  Firstly, in a pressure cooker, take toor dal, rice, turmeric powder and little salt to taste. Add 4 cups of water and cook for 2 whistles. Keep aside.

2.  In a heavy bottom large kadai, heat ghee. Splutter mustard seeds, hing, bedgi chilli, peanuts and curry leaves.

3.  Add onion chopped and saute well. Onion is optional. If you don’t want, you can avoid. Then add all the vegetables and saute well. Then add chopped tomato. Cook well by adding water into it.

4.  Add tamarind water. Then add bisi bele bhath powder and salt to taste. Saute until the spices are well cooked.

5.  Add cooked rice-dal mixture, water adjusting the consistency. Cover and cook for some more time.

6.  Temper with cashew nuts in ghee. You can add coriander leaves for garnishing.

7.  Enjoy Bisi bele bhath with boondi and raita.

8.  You can eat with bhendya phodi ( ladyfinger shallow fry)as side dish.