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Bisi Bele Bath

Name: Bisi Bele Bath
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: South Indian
Ingredients: 1 cup rice; 1/2 cup toor dal; 1/4 cup urad dal; Mixed vegetables; 2 tbsp bisi bele bath powder; Tamarind extract; Jaggery to taste; Ghee and mustard seeds for tempering

Spicy Lentil & Rice Dish

A flavorful and hearty one-pot meal from Karnataka, combining rice, lentils, assorted vegetables, and a unique, aromatic spice blend.

South Indian Special Wholesome Meal Richly Spiced

About Bisi Bele Bath

Bisi Bele Bath translates to "hot lentil rice," an iconic dish from Karnataka celebrated for its complex, tangy, and spicy flavor profile. Made by simmering rice, toor/urad dal, and vegetables with a special spice powder, it is a complete, satisfying meal.

Cuisine

South Indian

Serves

4–5 People

Cooking Time

40–50 Minutes

Ingredients

1 cup rice
1/2 cup dal (mixed toor and urad)
1.5 cups mixed vegetables (carrots, beans, peas)
2 tbsp Bisi Bele Bath powder

1/4 cup tamarind extract
2 tbsp ghee
Salt to taste
Cashews & curry leaves for tempering

Preparation

1

Cook Base

Pressure cook rice, dal, and vegetables until very soft and mushy.
2

Tamarind Base

In a pan, boil tamarind extract with salt and Bisi Bele Bath powder.
3

Combine

Mix the cooked rice-dal-veg mash into the simmering tamarind mixture.
4

Simmer

Adjust water to get a porridge consistency and simmer for 5 minutes.
5

Temper

Heat ghee and fry cashews, mustard seeds, and curry leaves.
6

Garnish

Pour the tempering over the hot bath and mix well.
7

Serve

Serve piping hot with a dollop of extra ghee.

Pro Tip

The soul of this dish lies in the Bisi Bele Bath masala powder. For the most authentic and robust flavor, dry roast whole spices (coriander seeds, dry chilies, cinnamon, cloves, chana dal, and urad dal) and grind them fresh at home instead of using store-bought powder. Serve it piping hot with a generous tempering of ghee and crunchy cashews to perfectly contrast the mushy, comforting texture of the rice and lentils.