BISI BELE HULI AANA
BISI BELE BATH/BHATH

Bisi bele bhath or bisi bele huli aana is a popular spicy rice dish from Karnataka. This rice based dish contains split pigeon peas, lots of vegetables, similar to vegetable khichdi. This simple, healthy, filling dish can be consumed either in lunch or dinner. The USP of this dish is a special spice powder called or known as bisi bele bath powder.
In Kannada bisi means hot,bele means lentil, huli means sour and aana means rice.
Making process of this dish has variations. You can cook rice and dal together or separately. Generally peanuts are added while cooking rice or you can also add with vegetables. You can keep the consistency as per your choice.

Preparation time : 15 minutes
Cooking time : 35 minutes
Serves : 4 persons

Ingredients:

3/4 cup rice
1/4 cup split pigeon peas
2 tbsp tamarind
1 tbsp jaggery
1 tsp turmeric powder
2 tbsp bisi bele bath powder
1tsp oil
1 tsp ghee
2 tbsp peanuts
1/4 cup green peas
1 carrot (diced)
4-5 french beans (chopped)
1 small potato (diced)
2-3 small onions
Salt to taste
For tempering:
1 tbsp ghee
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 sprig curry leaves
1 dried red chilli
8-10 cashew nut halves
Pinch of asafoetida
Masala bundi for sprinkle on top.

Method:

1. Wash rice and dal separately and add water. Soak tamarind in half cup of water.

2. Pressure cook dal and rice for 3-4 whistles. Once they are pressure cooked, mix both dal and rice. Mash dal before adding to rice.

3. Squeeze tamarind and strain it. Add salt and jaggery , mix and stir well till jaggery melts and mixes.

4. Add bisi bele bath powder in it and mix.

5. Heat oil and ghee and add peanuts, onion and vegetables and saute on high heat for 2-3 minutes.

6. Further add turmeric powder and water and let it cook for 4-5 minutes or till vegetables cook.

7. Then add prepared tamarind mixture and mix well. Cook for more 4-5 minutes on slow flame.

8. Then add cooked dal rice mixture.

9. Mix well and add about 2 cups of water and let it cook for 5-7 minutes on a low flame. Stir occasionally.
10. Heat ghee for tempering. Add temepring ingredients and prepare tadka. Add this to bisi bele bath. Taste and adjust spices, salt and bisi bele powder.

11. Top up it with masala bundi and serve hot with curd/raita, papad etc.

Note:

1. You can add brinjal, gourd etc.