Bisi bele bhath recipe - Karnataka style bisi bele bhath

Bisibele bhath is a scrumptious dish prepared with the perfect proportion of rice, toor dal and vegetables. This flavorful and delicious one pot meal is usually served  for lunch and dinner. In this bhath, all the ingredients are cooked in a typical way to bring out the authentic bisibele bhath taste of  Karnataka. I have used the famous MTR bisible bhath powder which has the perfect blend of  spices that gives the traditional taste and flavor to the bhath.

This flavorful and delicious one pot meal is usually served  for lunch and dinner. This is an excellent healthy meal that you can prepare with loads of vegetables. Like  matar paneer pulao, carrot pulao, vangi bhath, musharoom pulao, vegetable biryani, soybeans pulao and palak pulao, this pulav is also a very delicious one pot meal and you can pack it in the lunch box. You can carry it while travelling or this can be cooked as a special fancy meal during weekend to treat your family. Try this authentic,delicious and fuss free bisibele bhath and enjoy. 

Bisi Bele Bhath Recipe                              

Prep time : 20 mins     
Cook time : 45 mins

Total time : 65 mins

Recipe type : Main Course

Cuisine : Karnataka

Yield : Serves 3 - 4

Author : Vidya Chandrahas

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup basmati rice (or any other variety)
• 1/2 cup toor dal
• 1/4 tsp chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp MTR bisi bele bhath powder
• 1 tbsp tamarind pulp
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh corianders
• 1 ½ tsp salt

Vegetables Needed

• 1 cup chopped fresh beans
• 1 cup carrot pieces
• 1 cup cauliflower florets
• 1 cup capsicum pieces

For the Tempering

• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds / jeera
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 green chilli, chopped
• 1 ½ tbsp ghee

Method

1. Wash the carrots, green peas, beans and cauliflower florets separately.
2.  Peel the carrots and cut them into small pieces.
3.  Pinch off the tip of beans and cut them into small pieces.
4. Cut he cauliflower florets into small pieces.
5.  Boil 4 cups of water in a pan. Put the vegetables and cook until soft. Keep it aside.
6. Clean the rice and toor dal. Combine the rice and toor dal together. Wash them nicely and put in a cooker vessel.
7.  Add 2 cups of water and pressure cook till 3 - 4 whistles. Keep it aside.
8.  Heat the ghee in a large pan and add mustard seeds to it.
9. When the mustard seeds start spluttering, add the curry leaves, green chillies and jeera. Allow them to crackle.
10.  Add the onions and saute until translucent.
11.  Add boiled vegetables and reserve the stock. 
12. Add the chilli powder, turmeric powder and stir to combine.
13.  Add the MTR bisibele bhath powder and saute till the raw smell disappears.
14.  Add the tamarind pulp and mix well.
15. Add the rice and dal mixture, vegetable stock and salt. Mix well. 
16. Cook covered on low flame for 10 - 15 minutes or till the rice become mushy. Check in between to prevent it from burning.
17. Remove the lid and simmer till you get the desired consistency.
18.  Add the fresh corianders and mix well.
19.  Serve hot with papad, raita and pickles.

Bisi bele bhath - step by step pictures

1.  Cut the washed vegetables into small pieces. Boil them in 4 cups of water until soft. Combine together the washed rice and toor dal, add 2 cups of water. Pressure cook till 3 - 4 whistles.

 2.  Heat ghee in a pan and make a tempering with onion, curry leaves, jeera, mustard seeds and green chillies.

 3.  Saute till the onions are translucent. Add the boiled vegetables to it. Reserve the vegetable stock.

 4.  Add the chilli powder and turmeric powder.

5.  Add the MTR bisi bele bhath powder and saute till the raw smell disappears.

6.   Add the tamarind pulp and mix well.

7.  Add the cooked rice dal mixture.

  8.  Add the vegetable stock. Add salt and mix well.

 9.  Cover with lid and cook on low flame for 10 - 15 minutes.

10.  Open the lid and simmer on low flame till you get the desired consistency. Add the fresh corianders and mix well.

 11.  Serve hot with papad, raita and pickles.

 12.  Bisi bele bhath is ready to serve.