Bisi Bele Bath / Sambar Sadam

Bisi Bele Bath / Sambar Sadam

Bisi Bele Bath / Sambar Sadam is a very popular and traditional south Indian dish. This dish is made in almost all the families in south India. It is origin from Karnataka. So in Kannada it is called 'Bisi Bele Huli Anna', which means 'Hot Lentil Rice'. It is a one pot meal which is a combination of rice, lentil, vegetables and few spices. 

Traditional way of doing Bisi Bele Bath is without adding onion or garlic. Usually this dish is prepared during the special occasions like festival or marriages. Here i am using pearl onions for the flavor. You can skip it while doing. Also am using one special ingredient called 'Kalpasi' ( 'Kallu Huvu' in Kannada ). This is a spice which gives perfect flavor for the Bisi bele bath. You get this spice in Indian grocery shops.  

Ingredients:

Rice - 1/2 Cup

Toor dal - 1/2 Cup

Vegetables ( Potato, Carrot, Beans ) - 1/2 Cup

Peanuts - 1/4 Cup

Tomato - 1/2 medium size

Jaggery - 1/2 Tsp

Tamarind pulp - 1 Tsp

Sambar Powder - 2 Tsp

Salt to taste

Coriander leaves - Handful

For Temper:

Oil / Ghee - 4 Tsp

Mustard seeds - 1/2 Tsp

Asafoetida - 1 Pinch

Kalpasi - Small piece

Curry leaves - 6 to 8 Num

Red chilly - 2 Num

Peanuts / Cashew - 2 Tsp

Turmeric - 1/4 Tsp

Pearl onions - 12 to 15

Capsicum  - 1/2 medium size cut into medium cubes

Green peas - 1/4 Cup

Method :

1. Wash the rice and pressure cook adding 1 cup of water.

2. Pressure cook toor dal, peanuts and vegetables ( potato, carrot, beans ) together adding 1 cup of water.

3. In a pan add cooked rice, cooked vegetables, dal and peanuts.

4. Add 1 cup of water, sambar powder, jaggery, tamarind pulp and salt to taste.

5. Mix it well and let it boil.

6. In another pan add oil or ghee and mustard seeds. when it starts popping add asafoetida , peanuts and kalpasi.

7. Add curry leaves, red chilly and pearl onions.

8. Fry the pearl onions till it becomes light brown and add green peas and capsicum. Fry till it is done.

9. By this time rice, lentil and vegetable is cooked.

10. Add the temper to the cooked rice lentil and vegetable. Mix it and cook for another 2 min.

11. Serve hot Bisi Bele Bath / Sambar Sadam with onion tomato raita or chips or boondi with a dash of ghee.