Bisi bele bath..

This recipe from my MIL, is a extremely fragrant rice and dal based dish. Its a one pot meal, very satisfying and can be had with almost anything like chips or raitha or even some curds.


Serves 2-3 people

Rice ( sona masoori or Basmati rice) :   1 cup
Tuvar dal : 1/2 cup
Small onions : 1/2 cup
Frozen mixed vegetables : 1/2 cup
Coconut (freshly grated) : 1/4 cup
Tamarind paste   (mix with a 1/2 cup water) : 1 tsp
Salt : to taste
Jaggery powder : 2 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp

For masala paste:

Tuvar dal : 1 tsp
Urad dal : 1 tsp
Chana dal : 1 tsp
Red chillies (dry) : 2- 3 (to taste)
Asafoetida pwd :1/8 tsp
Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds :1/4 tsp
Cardamom pods : 1
Bay leaf  :  1/2 leaf
Black pepper corns : 4 nos
Cinnamon stick: a small piece


For dry powder:

Dry coriander seeds : 1.5 tbsp
Red chillies : 1

For tempering:

Oil (coconut oil) : 1.5 tsp
mustard seeds : 1/2 tsp
Almonds or Cashew nuts : 6- 7 nos

Method:

Dry roast all the ingredients mentioned for 'masala paste' for a couple of minutes and grind it with the freshly grated coconut into a paste (add water if needed). Now dry roast and powder coriander seeds and the red chilli and set aside. Pressure cook rice along with the tuvar dal until done. Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When the seeds crackle, add Small onions and fry them for a couple of minutes. when the onions become slighly golden in colour, pour tamarind water and add turmeric pwd, jaggery and Salt to taste. Add the frozen vegetables and mix. Cook for a couple of minutes. The tamarind water should be boiling. At this moment add the 'masala paste' followed by Rice Dal mixture and dry masala powder. Mix well and simmer covered for a couple of minutes more. In case your Bisi bele Bath becomes thick, all you have to do is to sprinkle some water. I like it when it has a 'pongal' like consistency. Enjoy eating this lovely dish with some potato chips or 'raita'.