Bisi bele bath ( Hot lentil brown rice) | Brown Rice Bisi Bele Bath

Bisibele bath which translates into hot lentil rice is a classic Karnataka dish. Lentils, rice and lot of veggies are cooked to soft with our Indian spices. Its a one pot meal, comfort food at its best. I experimented this classic dish by using brown rice in place of white rice. Also in addition to the regular veggies, I added bottle guard and Lima beans and skipped the potatoes.

Ingredients:

• Brown rice – 1 cup
• Toor dal- 3/4^th cup
• Chopped Green beans, carrot and bottle guard –total 2 cups
• Peas and Lima beans- 1/2 cup each
• Juicy large tomatoes- 3
• Bisi bele bath powder– 2 tsps
• Plain red chille powder- 1/2 tsp
• Tamarind pulp to taste
• Salt to taste

 Tempering:

• Oil- 2 tsps
• Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
• Chana dal – 1 tsp
• Few curry leaves
• Asafetida- 3 pinches
• Medium onion – 1 chopped
• Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp

In a small pan add the oil, once hot add the mustard seeds. When the mustard starts poping add the chana dal, curry leaves and asafatedia. Fry for few seconds and then add the chopped onion and turmeric. Cook until onions turn soft. Turn of the heat.

Procedure:

Wash and soak the brown rice and toor dal in two cups of water for 30 minutes.

Now take a pressure cooker add two tsps of oil. When the oil gets hot add all the veggies, pinch of turmeric and some salt. Cook for about five  minutes. Now add the tomatoes and cook for another five minutes. At this point add the soaked rice and dal with the water. Add another three cups of water, bisi bele bath powder, red chile powder and salt to it. Mix well. Close the pressure cooker lid, keep it in medium and give three vissels.  Now turn off the heat and wait for the steam to come down.

Now add the tempering and the tamarind pulp and check for the seasoning. At this point if you feel you need to add some more water, do so. Turn on the stove, mix and cook for another ten minutes minutes till everything comes together. Let the bisi belebath sit for few minutes before serving.

Enjoy this hot comfy goodness with some cucumber raita and baked chips. The chips add a cruncy bite to the melt in the mouth bisi bele bath and the raita cools of your palate.