Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

Indian Bisi Bele Bath

印度卡納塔克扁豆雜菜香料飯

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — finished dish

Total time: 120 min
Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 4 servings

Recipe overview

Rice, pigeon peas and vegetables cook into a soft one-pot meal flavoured with tamarind and toasted spices.

01

Ingredients

Main ingredients

250 g short-grain rice
180 g split pigeon peas
120 g carrot
120 g green beans
100 g green peas
1.1 L water

Karnataka masala

2 tsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp chana dal
1 tsp urad dal
1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
3 pieces dried chillies
1 piece cinnamon

Rice seasoning

2 tbsp tamarind paste
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp salt

Tempering

3 tbsp ghee
1 tsp mustard seeds
12 leaves curry leaves
1 pinch asafoetida

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — ingredients

02

Tools

cutting board
knife
dry frying pan
spice grinder
pressure cooker
small saucepan
wooden spoon

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — tools

03

Steps

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Wash rice and pigeon peas separately and drain

Step 1

Wash rice and pigeon peas separately and drain

Wash rice and pigeon peas separately and drain.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Dry-toast coriander, chana dal, urad dal, fenugreek, chillies and cinnamon

Step 2

Dry-toast coriander, chana dal, urad dal, fenugreek, chillies and cinnamon

Dry-toast coriander, chana dal, urad dal, fenugreek, chillies and cinnamon.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Cool completely and grind into Karnataka masala

Step 3

Cool completely and grind into Karnataka masala

Cool completely and grind into Karnataka masala.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Dice carrot and green beans and drain peas

Step 4

Dice carrot and green beans and drain peas

Dice carrot and green beans and drain peas.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Pressure-cook pigeon peas, turmeric and 600 ml water for twenty minutes, then release naturally

Step 5

Pressure-cook pigeon peas, turmeric and 600 ml water for twenty minutes, then release naturally

Pressure-cook pigeon peas, turmeric and 600 ml water for twenty minutes, then release naturally.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Once the dal is very soft, add rice and 400 ml hot water and cook fifteen minutes

Step 6

Once the dal is very soft, add rice and 400 ml hot water and cook fifteen minutes

Once the dal is very soft, add rice and 400 ml hot water and cook fifteen minutes.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Add carrot, beans and peas and cook until rice and vegetables are tender

Step 7

Add carrot, beans and peas and cook until rice and vegetables are tender

Add carrot, beans and peas and cook until rice and vegetables are tender.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Dilute tamarind paste with the remaining100 ml hot water

Step 8

Dilute tamarind paste with the remaining100 ml hot water

Dilute tamarind paste with the remaining100 ml hot water.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Stir tamarind water, Karnataka masala and salt into the rice and dal

Step 9

Stir tamarind water, Karnataka masala and salt into the rice and dal

Stir tamarind water, Karnataka masala and salt into the rice and dal.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Simmer until soft, thick and still flowing

Step 10

Simmer until soft, thick and still flowing

Simmer until soft, thick and still flowing.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Heat ghee and temper mustard seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida

Step 11

Heat ghee and temper mustard seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida

Heat ghee and temper mustard seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida.

Indian Bisi Bele Bath — Pour the tempering into the rice, mix and rest five minutes

Step 12

Pour the tempering into the rice, mix and rest five minutes

Pour the tempering into the rice, mix and rest five minutes.

Common mistakes

A dry result is not authentic; adding tamarind before the dal softens delays cooking.

Tips

Soften dal fully before adding acid; loosen with hot water as the dish thickens on standing.