Authentic & Spicy Bisi Bele Bath

About the Dish -
Bisi Bele Bath is a rice dish originated in Karnataka, India. 'Bisi Bele Bath' is a Kannada phrase which means 'Hot Lentil Tamarind Rice'. It is also called as 'Bisi Bele Huliyanna'. It is mainly made of rice, lentils, veggies and various spices.

Ingredients:
Rice - 1 Cup
Toor Dal(Lentils) - 3/4 Cup
Carrot - 2 medium diced
Beans - 10 - 12 cut into 2'' pieces
Cabbage - 1/4 Cup chopped roughly
Green Peas - 1/4 Cup soaked overnight or can use Fresh Green Peas at the time of cooking
Tomato - 1 medium Chopped
Kidney Beans - About 20 soaked overnight
Coyote Squash - 1 medium diced
Ash Guard - 1/2 Cup diced(Optional)
Potato - 1 medium diced
Capsicum - 1/2 cup cut into medium size
Groundnuts - About 15 - 20
Mustard - 2 tsp
Curry leaves - 6-7 leaves
Ghee - 4  Tbsp
Cashewnuts - 10 to 15
Tamarind Juice - 3 to 4 Tbsp
Salt - To taste
Jaggery - 2 Tbsp
Bisi Bele Bath Powder - 4 Tbsp(can add more depending spice level required)
Hing(Asafoetida) - a Pinch
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tsp
Oil - 1 Tsp

Ingredients for Bisi Bele Bath Powder:
Channa Dal - 1/4 cup
Urad Dal - 1/4 cup
Coriander Seeds - 2 Tbsp
Cinnamon - 1/2" stick
Cloves - 1
Marati Moggu - 1(spice used only in Bisi Bele Bath Powder)
Hing(Asafoetida) - 2 Pinches
Cardamom - 1
Peppercorns - 5 to 6
Methi Seeds - 1/2 Tsp
Poppy Seeds - 1/2 Tsp
Red Chillies - 15 (Can add more or less according to taste)
Karnataka Byadagi Chillies - 10 (This is used only for color not for Spiciness)
Grated Dry Coconut(Copra) - 1/2 Cup

Method to Prepare Bisi Bele Bath Powder:
1. Heat a pan, add 1 Tsp ghee, Red chillies, Byadagi chillies & fry it. Keep this aside
2. To the same pan, add another Tbsp of ghee, channa dal, urad dal, coriander seeds, methi seeds, clove, cardamom, marati moggu, cinnamon, peppercorns, hing and fry them until it turns brown.(Be careful not to burn the lentils or dal).
3. Switch off the stove & then add the poppy seeds and mix.
4. Grind the above mixture along with red chillies & dry copra into a fine powder.
5. Yummy Bisi Bele Bath Powder is ready.

Note: The above ingredients can also be combined & fried except for dry copra and poppy seeds. this powder can be made in large quantity and stored in Freezer for more than an year. (Measurements may vary based on the amount required)

Method to Prepare Bisi Bele Bath:
1. Cook the toor dal with turmeric powder & oil along with all the vegetables metioned above except for tomato & Capsicum in a pressure cooker for 1 whistle.
2. In a thick bottom pan add the rice and cook until half done.
3. Then add the cooked vegetables & toor dal to the half done rice.
4. Soak the Tamarind for 15 mins in warm water. Then extract the juice from it.
5. To the Tamarind juice, add Bisi Bele Bath Powder, salt and jaggery. Mix & add this to the rice, veggies & dal mixture. Add a little water if it is too thick.
6. Add tomato at this stage. Adjust salt & spiciness accordingly.
7. Cook the mixture until the rice, lentils and veggies are completely cooked.
8. Heat another pan, add 3 Tbsp ghee, mustard, Hing, curry leaves, groundnuts & capsicum. Fry them for a few mins.
9. Then add this seasoning to the cooked Bisi Bele Bath.
10. Serve hot with Raita or Bhoondi mixture.

Easy Tip: This can be made very easily if doing in a pressure cooker. Add all the veggies except capsicum, toor dal, rice, Bisibelebath Powder, tamarind juice, salt, jaggery, turmeric powder, 2 tbsp ghee and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Adjust salt & Spiciness. Then make seasoning as mentioned in step 8. Add this to the Cooked Bisibelebath and serve hot.

Servings: Serves  about 3 to 4 People