Bisi bele bath

 This is a dish from the state of Karnataka. In Kannada, it translates to hot lentil rice. It is a rice dish made with lentils, vegetables and spices like nutmeg, asafoetida and tamarind pulp. The traditional dish is slightly watery and usually served with boondi, a kind of fried mixture. I used to eat this at least once a week in my office cafeteria in Bangalore. The recipe penned down here uses a spicy masala that is available off the shelf.

The fragments of Mom's yummilicious item...

(1). Basmati rice - 1 cup

Water - 1 cup

(2).Green gram split (moong dal) - 1 cup

Tamarind juice - 1/4 cup

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Rice bran oil - 2 tsp

(3).Beans - 100g

Carrot - 1

Peas - 1/4 cup

(4).Capsicum - 2

Onion - 2

(5).Bisi bele bath mix powder - 2 Tbsp

The tack...
Wash rice well. Pressure cook it in a cup of water and a smidgeon of salt. Boil the lentils with water and a pinch of salt. Drain excess water and keep aside for later.

Trim ends of beans and discard the ends. Peel carrot. Chop beans and carrot into small pieces. Microwave beans, carrot and peas with little water until they are cooked through and through.

Deseed capsicum. Chop onion and capsicum into slices.

Heat a deep bottomed pan and dribble oil. Throw in onion slices and sautee until soft. Cast in capsicum, salt and stir for a few minutes. Add in the bisi bele bath mix powder and fry for a minute or two. Now add the tamarind juice. Then the other cooked vegetables, lentils and rice. Merge everything. Savor with yogurt and papad.