Bisi Bele Bath Recipe - Spice Up The Curry (2024)

This Bisi Bele Bath recipe is hearty and comforting food from Karnataka, a South Indian state. It is so easy to make and is always a big hit with the family. Easy comfort food for any day of the week.

What is Bisi Bele Bath?

If we translate this bisibelebath (Kannada name), Bisi means (piping) hot, Bele means lentils and Bath means the dish made with rice. So in short, this is a healthy one-pot meal made with dal, rice, and the addition of vegetables. This bisi bele bath is also called bisi bele huli anna (means a hot, tangy dish with dal, rice).

What brand of bisi bele bath powder to use?

If you prefer the store bought one than MTR brand is the best. If you like me who loves homemade masala powders just because homemade one gives a better taste, flavor and aroma then here is my recipe of bisi bele bath powder.

There is another similar dish from Tamil cuisine named sambar rice where dal and rice are cooked together and then mixed with cooked vegetables and freshly made spice paste. But here in bisi bele bath recipe, we are cooking dal and rice separately and then mixed with cooked vegetables, spice powder, and tamarind.

Why rice and dal cooked separately and not together?

The dish should have fully cooked rice grain yet with texture (not mushy) and dal should be really soft and mushy. So the mushy dal gives a creamy, smooth texture and the bite from veggies and rice. If you like rice and dal both mushy like khichdi in your bisi bele bath then you can cook together.

Check out other rice recipes
Curd rice // Tomato rice // Tamarind rice // Indian lemon rice // Coconut milk rice

Step By Step Photo Instructions:

1)Wash rice and dal separately under running cold water till water runs clear. Or rinse them 3-4 times or till water is no more cloudy. If you have time then you can soak for 20 minutes or skip it. Take washed rice, salt, peanuts and 1 ½ cups of water in a small container (that fits into pressure cooker). Here I am cooking dal and rice in my Instant pot using PIP (pot-in-pot) method.

2) In another container take washed dal, turmeric powder, oil and 1 cup of water.

3) Add around 1-2 glass of water in the pressure cooker (inner pot of instant pot) and place the rack or stand in the bottom. Then place the dal container.

4) On top place the rice container.

5) Cover the rice container with a lid. Then cover the cooker with lid, put the weight on. Cook for 3-4 whistles on medium heat. Let the pressure go down by itself and then open the lid. If cooking in instant pot then cook on manual (high pressure) 10 minutes.

6) While it is pressure cooking, take tamarind and soak into ½ cup of hot water and let it soak for 20 minutes. Mash it using your fingers and extract all the pulp. Strain and keep it aside. Also, chop all the veggies and keep them ready.

7) Remove the rice container from the cooker.

8) Roughly mix them.

9) Also, remove the dal container.

10) And whisk it till smooth. You can use a wire whisk or hand blender. Keep it aside.

11) Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add onion.

12) Saute till onions get soft and translucent or light pink in color.

13) Then add all the vegetables (tomato, potato, carrot, beans, peas).

14) Mix well and add salt. Saute for 3-4 minutes.

15) Then add 1 cup of water.

16) Cover with lid and cook till vegetables are cooked, soft and tender. It took me around 8-10 minutes. Do stir in between and if it dries out too much then add a splash of water as needed.

17) Now add jaggery.

18) Also, add bisi bele bath masala powder. Mix well and cook for a minute.

19) Then add tamarind water + another 1 cup of water.

20) Mix well and let it come to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes

21) Now add boiled dal.

22) Also, add cooked rice.

23) Mix well and cook for 4-5 minutes so all the flavors get to mingle. If needed you can add more water to get the right consistency.

24) On another stove let’s prepare the tempering. Heat the small tadka pan on medium heat and add ghee. Let the ghee melt and heat up.

25) Once hot add mustard seeds and let them pop.

26) Now add cashew nuts and dried red chilies.

27) Saute for a minute or till cashews are golden brown in color.

28) Add curry leaves.

29) Also, add hing.

30) Immediately pour the tempering into to bisi bele bath mixture. Stir well and serve.

Serve piping hot bisi bele bath with a side of roasted or fried papad, potato chips or boondi and chutney or onion tomato raita. This can be packed into the lunch box.

Did you try this bisi bele bath recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review in the comment section below.

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