Bisi Bele Bath

Bisi bele bath or huli anna is a traditional Karnataka dish that is prepared in every kannadiga’s home. bisi meaning hot (temperature), bele meaning lentils and huli meaning sour, anna meaning rice. Bisi bele bath is dal and rice cooked together with tamarind and spice powders. As the name suggests it has to be served hot. It tastes best when seasoned in ghee and served hot.

To make bisi bele bath, you can use store bought powder, MTR works the best. Iam also sharing an easy bisi bele bath powder recipe that smells great and is aromatic to give that authentic touch.
 
Rice and dal can be cooked together or separately. I like to have both mushy, then you can cook rice and dal together.

bisi bele bath powder or use MTR powder

• 4 red chilli 
• 1 inch 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 1 tsp jeera
• 1 tsp urad dal
• 1 tsp chana dal
• 2 pinches methi seeds
• 1 ½ tbsp.coriander seeds
• 1 small marati moggu
• 1 tbsp. fresh or dry coconut

for bisi bele bath

• ¾ cup rice
• ½ cup toor dal (can reduce by 1 to 2 tbsps.)
• 6 to 8 shallots or 2 tbsp fresh grated coconut(use to make powder)
• Small lemon sized tamarind /
• 1 ½ tsp. jaggery / bella
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp ghee

Seasoning

• 2 tsp. ghee (3 tsp suggested)
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• Few cashews broken
• Pinch of hing
• ½ tsp mustard
• 1 broken red chilli

Vegetables

• 1/2 cup green peas
• 4 to 5 beans 
• ¼ cup capsicum cubed (optional)
• ½ cup carrots diced
• 1 potato
• 1/2 cup cauliflower

Instructions

1. Dry roast all the ingredients one after the other mentioned for bisi bele bath powder. Cool them and set aside. Make a fine powder.
2. Wash and soak rice for at least 30 mins.
3. Pressure cook rice & dal for 3 whistle.
4. Soak tamarind in half cup hot water. Squeeze it and filter to a bowl.
5. Add the bisi bele bath powder, jaggery, salt to the tamarind juice. Mix well to remove lumps. Set aside.
6. Mash the dal and rice roughly. 
7. Heat a pan with 1 tsp ghee, add the vegetables and sauté for 3 to 4 mins.
8. Pour 1 cup of water and cook the veggies till they are ¾ done. This way they retain the crunchiness.
9. Pour the tamarind mix and stir well. Allow it to boil for few minutes.
10. Add the mashed rice dal and mix well. Add 1 to 1 ¼ cups water and stir well. Let the rice come to a boil on a medium flame. This takes around 4 to 6 mins.
11. Cook till the rice reaches a desired consistency.
12. Season with seasoning ingredients. Pour the seasoning over the bisi bele bath.
13. Ready to serve. Can be served with boondi, papad.