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.

Before i talk about the picture which is below this writing, I need to share a small cute story with you all. About a month back on one of our weekly visits to the Indian store my daughter picked up this clay pot. She said “Mom! Can I please have this”. I happily agreed (after seeing the price shh…) and as soon as we came home she painted and decorated it. Then filled it up with cotton and said it is butter.Just like what she has seen in Krishna’s book. She was very proud of it. She placed it in our dining table and wouldn’t let any one touch it. Aren’t kids adorable!

 Coming to the point, I wanted to put a picture of the brown rice and was having hard time deciding on how to take one. When i saw this clay pot on my table, I immediately knew this would work.  My daughter was more than happy to share it with me. I really liked how the pictures came out.

Brown rice

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.