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Bisibelabath recipe

Bisi Bela Bath is a flavorful and wholesome dish made with rice, lentils, and vegetables. This traditional one-pot meal from Karnataka cuisine is also known as Sambar Rice and is widely popular in South India. It is, in fact, a signature offering of the renowned MTR restaurant chain.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine South Indian
Servings 5

Ingredients
  

  •      Mixed Vegetables*    2 cups
  •      Rice   3/4 cup
  •      Toor dal 1/3 cup
  •      Sambar powder   1 and 1/2 tsp
  •     Turmeric powder   1/2 tsp
  •     Salt as needed
  •     Small onions | shallots 1/2 cup
  •     Tamarind extract from a small lemon sized tamarind    2 cups
  •     Oil    2 tbsp + 3 tsp  
  •     Ghee 1 tbsp
  •     Cashew nuts few
  •     Peanuts   few (optional)
  •     Curry leaves few
  •     Asafoetida 2 pinches 
  •     Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp

 To roast and grind

  •   Dhaniya | Coriander seeds   2 tbsp.
  •   Channa dal   2 tbsp.
  •   Red chili 5-6
  •   Kopra or fresh coconut   1/4 cup
  •   Tomato   1    

Instructions
 

  • In a pan add 1/2 tsp of oil and add the Dhaniya, Channa dal and red chili. Roast till golden brown.
  • Switch off the flame and add the copra and tomato.
  • Let this be in the heat for a while.
  • Grind this into a fine paste. You can add water while grinding.
  • In a pressure cooker cook the rice and toor dal using 4 cups of water for 6-7 whisltes.
  • Mash this with a ladle and keep aside.
  • In a pressure cooker add 2 tbsp. of oil (cooking oil + sesame oil) and add mustard seeds.
  • Once it splutters add in the small onions. You can use finely chopped big onion too.
  • Once the onions turn pink add the veggies. Mix well and sauté for 2 minutes.
  • Keep the tamarind extract ready. Add the tamarind water to this.
  • Add in the sambar powder, asafoetida, salt and turmeric powder.
  • Let this boil for 2 minutes.
  • Add in the ground paste and the mashed rice and Toor dal mixture.
  • Mix well without any lumps and add 1/2 cup of water and 3 tsp of sesame oil and cover the cooker.
  • Pressure cook till 1 whistle and keep in low flame for 10 minutes.
  • Add ghee in a small pan and add the cashew nuts and peanuts(if adding).
  • Cook till golden brown and add to the bisibelabath. Mix well.
  • Add curry leaves and serve hot with Appalam | vadam | raita.
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