Warm, comforting, and bursting with flavour—Bisi Bele Bath is South India’s answer to fulfilling and wholesome food. This one-pot dish combines rice, lentils, vegetables, and flavourful spices into a rich, aromatic meal that’s perfect for any time of day. With its roots in Karnataka, its name refers to “hot lentil rice,” and it lives up to that promise with every spoonful. Whether you’re craving something hearty or looking to explore regional Indian cuisine, the Bisi Bele Bath recipe is a must-try that brings tradition and taste together most satisfyingly.
Bisi Bele Bath Recipe: Ingredients
The ingredients you need to cook delicious bisi bele bath are as follows:
- ½ cup any Keshar Kali rice heaped
- ¼ cup toor dal
- 1 teaspoon of tamarind
- 14 small onion shallots
- 1 potato
- ¼ cup of peas, carrots, beans, and other vegetables of your choice
- ½ carrot
- ½ teaspoon of gur or jaggery
- ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
- 1 tablespoon of ghee or any cold-pressed edible oil
- 8 Cashew nuts
To Roast and Powder
- 5 red chillies
- 1.5 teaspoon coriander seeds
- ½ teaspoon of urad dal
- 1 teaspoon of chana dal
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon of fenugreek seeds
- ¼ teaspoon of cumin seeds
- ⅛ teaspoon of hing or asafoetida
- ½ inch Cinnamon
- 1 Clove
- 1 Marathi moggu
- 1.5 tablespoons of dry coconut
Bisi Bele Bath Recipe: Step-By-Step Guide
Now that you know the ingredients needed to cook bisi belle bath, it is time to check out the recipe. Here is a step-by-step guide on the easy bisi bele bath recipe:
Step 1 – Preparation
- Wash any Keshar Kali rice and soak them in water for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mash tamarind, extract its juice with the help of 3/4 cups of water.
- Rinse urad and chana dal and soak them in water for a few minutes.
- Peel the skin of the potato, carrot, and veggies of your choice and slice them. Cut the vegetables into small cubes and boil them with 1 cup of water.
Step 2 – Prepare the Spices
- Now, add a spoonful of ghee or any cold-pressed cooking oil in a pan or kadhai. Add cashews to the oil and fry them until they turn golden. Keep the fried cashews aside for garnishing.
- In the same cooking utensil, toss in the following ingredients: fenugreek seeds, a pinch of hing, cumin seeds, red chilli, coriander seeds, marathi mogu, asafoetida, cinnamon, and clove.
- Stir all the ingredients well and finally add the coconut. Roast the mixture until it turns golden brown. Ensure that the flame is low, or else the ingredients will be burned.
- After roasting, keep the mixture aside for a few minutes and let it come to room temperature. Then, put the mixture into the mixer grinder the blend the ingredients finely.
Step 3 – Bisi Bele Bath Recipe
- In the same cooking utensil, wipe the excess ingredients and add a spoon of ghee or cold-pressed cooking oil.
- Add the onions and fry them till they turn golden brown. Now, add the boiled veggies.
- Toss in the tamarind extract, turmeric, salt, and gur. Add the spice powder mix that you have prepared above.
- Sauté well and bring it to a boil. If the mixture is excessively thick, add ½ a cup more water.
- Now, add the soaked urad dal, rice, chana dal, and toor dal. Sauté the mixture well on a medium flame and let the dal and rice cook.
- When the rice dal is properly cooked, add the fried cashews, and your dish is ready. Relish the meal with onion raita and crispy potato chips. Enjoy!
Expert Tips to Cook Bisi Bele Bath Recipe
Here are some expert tips that will help you to cook the delicious and easy bise bele bath recipe:
- If you are using readymade bise bille bath powder, ensure it is of high quality as it is the heart of the dish. It is advisable to use the homemade masala powder because it offers fresh, balanced, and authentic flavour. If you are purchasing store-bought powder, ensure it is of high quality.
- Use a high-quality short-grained or long-grained rice and unpolished dals.
- You can use 1 to 2 teaspoons of gur or jaggery to create the perfect balance between spicy and tangy flavours.
- You can add any vegetables of your choice, like carrots, beans, capsicum, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, etc.
- You can use any utensil to cook the easy Bisi Bele Bath recipe: a deep-bottomed pan or a stovetop pressure cooker.
- In addition to cashews, you can also add peanuts.
- Adding the Marathi moggu is mandatory in an authentic traditional Bisi Bele Bath masala powder.
- Cook the dish till the raw flavour of tamarind vanishes and the flavours combine well. When cooking, water is required, and keep stirring or else your food may get burned at the base.
Conclusion:
So, there you go! Your easy Bisi Bele Bath recipe is ready. It’s more than a recipe; it celebrates the culinary heritage of the beautiful state of Karnataka. With its bold spices, wholesome ingredients, and comforting warmth, it’s a dish that nourishes both body and soul. Once you master the balance of flavours, it’s easy to make this a regular part of your meal. Serve it hot with a spoonful of ghee, cucumber or onion raita, crispy potato chips, tangy pickles and a side of crispy papad, and you’ve got a plate full of happiness. Whether you’re cooking the lip-smacking dish to treat your family or yourself, the Bisi Bele Bath recipe is a timeless classic that always makes everyone happy and satisfied.
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