Hearty and Nutritious: Broken Wheat Bisi Bele Bath – A Wholesome Twist to a Classic Dish

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Total time: 45 minutes

BISI BELE BATH (WITH BROKEN WHEAT)

Bisi bele bath is a spicy rice based dish with origin in the state of Karnataka. Bisi bele bath means ‘hot lentil rice dish’ in Kannada. The traditional preparation of this dish involves the use of toor dal, rice, vegetables cooked together with tamarind and a spicy powder. It is then seasoned in ghee and served hot. It is served at breakfast, lunch or dinner.

This is my version of Bisi Bele Bath using Broken Wheat and toor dal and lemon juice instead of tamarind water. The taste still remains the same like the traditional preparation.

Ingredients: 

(1 cup= 200 ml)

Broken wheat (Dalia) – ½ cup

Toor dal- ½ cup

Potato- 1

Carrot- 1

Beans – 4 to 5

Capsicum- 1 small sized

Onion- 1 medium sized

Tomato- 1 medium sized

Bisi bele bath powder (MTR) – 3 tsp

Lemon – 1

Turmeric powder (Haldi) – ½ tsp.

Salt to taste

Water- 5 cups

For tempering

Mustard- 1 tsp

Dry red chilli- 1

Hing (asafoetida) – a pinch

Curry leaves – few

Cashew nuts- 8 to 10

Peanuts – 2 tsp

 Ghee – 2 tsp

Preparation Method: Step by Step

1. Take ½ cup broken wheat and ½ cup toor dal and wash it 2 to 3 times with water. Drain off excess water and transfer it into a pressure cooker.  
2. Add 4 cups of water and salt as required.
3. Close the lid of the pressure cooker and cook for 4 to 5 whistles on medium flame.
4. Let the pressure release naturally. Once the pressure is released naturally, open the lid and stir it until the broken wheat and dal turns mushy.
5. Add another 1 cup of water to make is slightly loose. 
6. Add in turmeric powder and all the chopped vegetables. I added capsicum later since I like it in slightly raw form.
7. Close the lid of the cooker again and cook for 1 whistle and turn off the flame. Let the pressure release naturally.
8. Once the pressures releases, add capsicum and 3 tbsp. of Bisi Bele Bath powder and bring it to boil. Turn off the flame and add 1 full lemon juice. Mix well.
9. In a pan take 2 tbsp ghee. Add 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 dry red chilly, a pinch of hing, few curry leaves, 2 tbsp of peanuts and 8 to 10 cashewnuts. Saute them till peanuts and cashewnuts are fried.
10. Pour it over the Bisi Bele Bath.
11. Bisi Bele Bath is ready to be served hot along with Kara Boondi.

Suggestions:

1. Rice can replace the broken wheat (dalia) to make the traditional Bisi Bele Bath.
2. More vegetables can be added like radish, green peas, any vegetable of your choice.
3. Tomato is optional. I like to add it since I like the tangy taste of tomato.
4. Lemon juice can be replaced by 1cup of tamarind water (extracted by soaking a small gooseberry sized tamarind).