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Home » All recipes » Bisi Bele Bath: A Classic Karnataka Dish | Sambar Sadam

Bisi Bele Bath: A Classic Karnataka Dish | Sambar Sadam

Published: Apr 17, 2013 · Modified: May 4, 2020

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bisibelebath served in a white bowl and raita and chips are served on the side

One of the most popular rice dishes from Karnataka is the ever classic Bisi Bele Bath. Bisi means hot, bele means dal which translates into hot lentil rice. Like obbatu (bobbatlu/puran poli) bisibele bath takes a special place during festivals and weddings. It’s a one pot meal in which you get your protein, carbs and veggies cooked to perfection in our favourite Indian spices. Cucumber raita on the side is a nice compliment to this classic dish of Karnataka.

Freshly ground spices sure taste great. But I just use the powder my co-sister gives me. I generally freeze it and just take little bit at a time. Freezer is absolutely a wonderful way of storing the spice powders. Freezing not only keeps them fresh, they also stay longer. I directly cooked the Bisi bele bath in a deep pot. You can do so in pressure cooker as well which is much faster

Check out my other versions of Bisi bele bath:

  • Oats Bisi bele bath
  • Brown rice Bisi bele bath


Ingredients:

(Serves 4 people)

  • Basmathi rice:  1 cup
  • Toor dal (kandi pappu): ¾ th cup
  • Beans (about 30) cut into half inch pieces
  • Large carrot: 1 cut into half inch pieces
  • Frozen peas: ½ cup
  • Small potato: 1 cut into small cubes
  • Medium size ripe tomato: 3 cut into small pieces
  • Bisibele bath powder: 3 tsps (recipe below) ( home made or store bought)
  • Palin red chilly powder- ½ tsp
  • Turmeric powder: ¼ tsp
  • Salt: 2 to 3 tsps
  • Tamarind pulp to taste
  • Oil: 1 tsps

For tempering ( talimpu):

  • Oil: 2 tbsps
  • Few mustard seeds
  • Chana dal : 1 tsps
  • Turmeric: ¼th tsp
  • Few curry leaves
  • Small onion: 1 (chop into small pieces)
  • Hing (asafetida): 5 pinches

Bisi bele bath powder:

  • chana dal- 3 tsp
  • urad dal- 3 tsp
  • fenugreek (methi seeds)- about 4 seeds
  • dry coconut- 3 tsps
  • red chillies- 5 to 6
  • jeera (cumin)- 1 tsp
  • coriander seeds- 1 tsp
  • cloves- 2
  • cardamom- 1
  • cinammon stick- a small piece

Fry all the above ingredients in 1 tsp oil. Grind to a smooth paste and use 3 tsps of this mixtue for the Bisi bele bath.

Procedure:

  • If time permits, soak toor dal for few minutes. Then take a deep pot, add seven cups of water, toor dal, 1 tsp oil and half tsp of salt and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat and cook till the dal is half way done. This takes about ten minutes. Mean while prep all the veggies. After ten minutes add the beans and tomato and cook for another five minutes. Then add the rest of the veggies: carrot, potato and peas.
  • Just stir a minute then add the washed rice, mix and cook till the rice is almost done.
  • Meanwhile in another pan do the tempering. Add oil and mustard seeds, once the mustard seeds start popping, add the chana dal, curry leaves and onion. Cook till onion becomes soft, then add the hing and turn the stove off.
  • In a small cup, take the bisi bele bath powder and salt. Mix with few tsps of water, stir and mix this powder and the tamarind pulp in the cooked rice mixture. This way of adding the bisi bele bath powder helps from not forming any lumps. Stir the whole mixture gently and cook till the rice is completely done. If you feel you need more water, add it now. Then at the end add the tempering and turn the heat off.

Let stand for few minutes before serving.

Enjoy this ever classic Bisi bele bath with a dollop of ghee, cucumber raita and chips.
 
 
bisibelebath served with raita and chips in a white plate

More Recipes from Karnataka –

Maddur Vada

Nuchinunde

Congress Kadlekai

Instant Pot Veg Pulao (karnataka style)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Umashankari Venkataraman

    August 31, 2013 at 2:51 am

    You forgot to add tamarind. When do you add this?

    Reply
    • Madhavi K

      August 31, 2013 at 3:21 am

      Sorry updated the recipe! We add the tamarind when we add the bisibele bath powder!

      Reply
  2. Shobha

    August 25, 2013 at 11:41 am

    I just love it !

    Reply
  3. Shweta Agrawal

    June 05, 2013 at 4:25 pm

    Truly delicious…Such tempting clicks

    Reply
  4. Saranya Balaji

    April 18, 2013 at 8:09 am

    Simple and delicious one pot meal…

    Reply
  5. Divya Shivaraman

    April 17, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    this is one yummy food…we make it a bit more thick madhu

    Reply
  6. Priya Suresh

    April 17, 2013 at 9:17 pm

    Comforting food,i can survive for many days with it.

    Reply
  7. Swasthi Blank

    April 17, 2013 at 10:57 am

    delicious one pot meal

    Reply
  8. Chitz

    April 17, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    Yummy.. I love it with pappads 🙂

    Reply
  9. Akila

    April 17, 2013 at 4:59 am

    Delicious

    Reply
  10. Sapana Behl

    April 17, 2013 at 10:56 am

    Looks yummy!

    Reply
  11. Sona S

    April 17, 2013 at 7:05 am

    looks delicious..

    Reply

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About me

Hello there, I am Madhavi, welcome to my blog! I share vegetarian, dairy and egg recipes from India and around the world. Hope you enjoy my recipes and Happy Browsing!

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