Bisi Bele Bath (Step-By-Step Instructions)

Bisi Bele Bath literally means “hot lentils rice” is a popular wholesome meal from Karnataka. This spicy rice based dish has rice, lentils, mix of vegetables and special spicy masala powder all cooked together in pressure cooker. It’s a wholesome meal in itself!

This unique and healthy dish has it’s origin in Mysore. It’s believed bisi bele bath recipe was first made in Mysore palace for the King of Mysore. It’s taste was so unique but so delicious that it got spread across the entire state.

Bisi bele bath is a traditional South Indian dish from Karnataka cuisine. Bisi Bele Bath(BBB) translates to Bisi = hot, Bele = lentils/dal, Bath = rice mixed with veggies.BBB is very popular in South India, Karnataka. It’s a healthy rice recipe with goodness of lentils and vegetables in it.

Lunch like this makes me nostalgic. During the college days mom used to pack my lunch box and one of the most loved dish by my friends was this bisi bele bath.

The last class before lunch used to feel the longest hour of the day. The grumbling stomach can be a bit embarrassing in some situations! And sometimes it’s so loud that the entire class hears it and breaks out in laughter. How embarrassing can that be! Very I would say, from my personal experience! 😛

The sound of the loud irritating bell indicating the end of class somehow suddenly starts to feel very soothing, just for that moment. Lunch Time! YAY!

Friends would generously hand their box to me and take away my box and then each one used to pounce into the box every time my box was packed with bisi bele bath. There were fights among we friends as to who get to taste first and who is the smart one to take as many spoons soon possible so she gets to eat it all! Moms special sambar rice with potato fry and BBB was world famous among my friends group.

How To Make Bisi Bele Bath (Step-by-Step Instructions)

1. Wash rice and lentils separately till water turns clear. Add 4 cups of water to rice and 2 ½ cups of water to dal and cook it in a pressure cooker for 2-3 whistles.

2. Cook vegetables in open pot, first add the vegetables that needs longer time to cook, until half cooked. Next add other vegetables depending on the time it would need to cook. I first cooked carrots and beans until half done, then added cauliflower and after 8-10 mins I added capsicum.

3. Once rice, dal and vegetables are all cooked you are ready to mix them together to make BBB. Keep onions and tomatoes chopped and ready. Also Prepare homemade bisi bele bath powder by dry roasting all spices mentioned for the powder. Check bisi bele bath powder recipe here.

4. In a large pan(I used pressure cooker) add oil, to hot oil add mustard seeds and wait until they crackle. Next add asafoetida.

5. Add chopped onions and saute until translucent, now add tomatoes and saute until they turn soft and mushy.

6. Next add turmeric powder, sambar powder and bisi bele bath powder and mix well. Next add the cooked vegetables and mix.

7. It’s time to add dal now, add cooked and mashed dal to cooker and mix well. Once every thing blends add cooked and mashed rice and mix again

8. Finally add tamarind juice, mix well and allow it to cook for 5 mins. Season with salt.

9. Hot, flavorful and heavenly bisi bele bath is ready. Serve them piping hot with little ghee on top along with kara boondi or chips along with raita.

Secret Tips To Make Best Tasting Bisi Bele Bath

Bisi bele bath powder is very important. Using fresh homemade powder makes a lot of difference. We never buy it from store, well mostly not. My mom always made her own bisi bele bath powder masala and that was one of the reason why I think my mom’s bisi bele bath recipe is the best. It tastes the best.

Another very important tip to make the best tasting BBB is –  You cook rice, dal and vegetables separately. Yes you read it right. Though you can cook everything(rice, dal, veggies) together in a pressure cooker (one pat meal), Cooking veggies, rice and dal separately gives a wonderful and unique taste to this bath. This method is slightly long process, but it’s all worth it, trust me on this one! I have tried both versions multiple times and I know this for sure.

The proper and only right way to serve bisi bele bath is with a dollop of ghee and handful of spicy kara boondi. Don’t skip both.

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Bisi Bele Bath

Bisi Bele Bath literally means "hot lentils rice" is a popular wholesome meal from Karnataka. This spicy rice based dish has rice, lentils, mix of vegetables and special spicy masala powder all cooked together in pressure cooker. It's a wholesome meal in itself!

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 424kcal

Author: Jyothi Rajesh

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 cups Rice
• ▢ 1 cup Toor Dal/Red Lentils
• ▢ 4 cups Mixed Vegetables cut into bite sized pieces (I used Carrots, French Beans, Cauliflower, and green bell peppers)
• ▢ 2 Onion thinly sliced
• ▢ 2 tomatoes chopped
• ▢ 1 sprig curry leaves
• ▢ ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
• ▢ 1 large Lime sized Tamarind Pulp soaked in warm water and juice extracted (adjust according to taste)
• ▢ ½ tablespoon  jaggery optional
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon  asafoetida powder
• ▢ ½ - 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• ▢ 2 teaspoon  sambar powder
• ▢ ½ cup bisi bele bath masala powder
• ▢ Salt to taste
• ▢ 3 tablespoon Oil
• ▢ 1 tablespoon ghee

Instructions

• I like to cook rice, dal and vegetables separately, though you can cook them to-gather at a time, cooking them separately gives more taste to the bath. I prefer to cook vegetables in open pot, which retains the color of the veggies.
• Wash rice and lentils separately till water turns clear. Add 4 cups of water to rice and 2 ½ cups of water to dal and cook it in a pressure cooker for 2-3 whistles.
• Cook vegetables in open pot, first add the vegetables that needs longer time to cook, until half cooked. Next add other vegetables depending on the time it would need to cook. I first cooked carrots and beans until half done, then added cauliflower and after 8-10 mins I added capsicum.
• Once rice, dal and vegetables are all cooked you are ready to mix them together to make BBB. Keep onions and tomatoes chopped and ready.
• In a large pan(I used pressure cooker) add oil, to hot oil add mustard seeds and wait until they crackle. Next add asafoetida.
• Add chopped onions and saute until translucent, now add tomatoes and saute until they turn soft and mushy.
• Next add turmeric powder, sambar powder and bisi bele bath powder and mix well. Next add the cooked vegetables and mix.
• It's time to add dal now, add cooked and mashed dal to cooker and mix well. Once every thing blends add cooked and mashed rice and mix again.
• Finally add tamarind juice, mix well and allow it to cook for 5 mins. Season with salt.
• Hot, flavorful and heavenly bisi bele bath is ready. Serve them piping hot with little ghee on top along with kara boondi or chips along with raita.

Notes

1. Bisi bele bath masala powder has to be stored in air tight container and refrigerated.
2. Though you can cook everything(rice, dal, veggies) together in a pressure cooker (one pat meal), Cooking veggies, rice and dal separately gives a wonderful and unique taste to this bath.
3. You can choose any vegetable to add to the dish, peas, potato, drum sticks, radish, broad beans,  all go well with this dish.
4. The proper and only right way to serve bisi bele bath is with a dollop of ghee and handful of spicy kara boondi. Don't skip both. 

Nutrition

Calories: 424kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 574mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 4895IU | Vitamin C: 21.7mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 3.1mg

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