Bisibele Bath

After Bisibele bath powder,  it is only logical that I put the recipe for BBB. That way I will have the recipe complete, from start to finish. 

Bisibele bath is a signature dish from Karnataka, made out of dal, rice and vegetables. A wholesome one pot meal. 

BBB tastes best when the vegetables are crunchy, dal is properly smashed, the masala is fresh, and you can taste the tadka.. There are many ways one can do this, ranging from very elaborate to very easy..

Which method I follow, depends on the kind of affection I have for my hubby on that particular day, and also the amount of time I have on my hands.. 

I am giving you all the methods I know of..

Do try!

Ingredients

Rice(Sona masoori) - 1 cup

Dal - 1/2 to 3/4 cup

Water - 4 cups

BBB powder - 2 to 3 tbsp

Kobri(desiccated coconut) - 2 tsp (or alternately you could grind BBB powder with coconut)

Tamarind paste - 1 1/2 to 2  tsp(according to taste)

Jaggery - 1/2 tsp

Vegetables 

Carrot

Beans

Peas

Chayote(Seemebadnekayi)

Onion and Tomato(optional, I generally avoid this)

tadka

Oil + Ghee(or just ghee) - 2 tbsp(more the better)

Mustard seeds

Channa dal

Urad dal

Peanuts or Cashews

Hing

Curry leaves

Method

Method 1(procedure moderately easy):

In a pressure cooker cook rice and dal for 3 whistles(I put couple of cinnamon sticks for the added flavor). 

In a different pressure cooker cook the cut vegetables with little salt for just 1 whistle(about 10 min), or steam the vegetables.

In a deep pot, add some oil or ghee. Add desiccated coconut. Immediately add turmeric+ BBB powder + jaggery + tamarind paste + little water. Add onion(optional). Let it come to a boil. Add cooked rice+dal mixture, salt. Adjust the water to bring it to a kichadi consistency. Add more powder,tamarind if necessary. Bring it to a boil. Add the cooked  vegetables. Mix it and bring it to a boil so that the vegetables are well incorporated in the BBB. 

Make tadka out of the tadka ingredients. Add it to the BBB. Mix before serving. 

Method 2(very easy):

In a pressure cooker, start with the tadka(or add later). Add onion if adding any. Add turmeric + BBB powder + desiccated coconut + tamarind + jaggery + washed rice and dal + vegetables. Add water(5 cups water for 1 cup rice). Let it whistle for 2 - 3 whistles. Open the lid, adjust water if necessary. Boil again after adding water. Alternately you can add the tadka later. 

Method 3: (Source: from whatever I remember from Indu)

Most time consuming and most delicious.

In a thick bottom pot, add dal and water. After it is half cooked add rice and vegetables, salt, turmeric. Midway while the rice is cooking add BBB powder, jaggery, turmeric, tomato(tomato is optional). After it is done, make tadka in a different pan(fry onion in the tadka)and add to this. 

Notes - 

• Adding onion gives BBB a different flavor. I generally avoid it.
• Onion fried in tadka gives a different taste than onion boiled in water. I prefer boiling in water. 
• Adding tomato also alters the flavor. It is also optional. I add it on and off. If adding, add it in the end of the cooking cycle.