Bisi Bele Bath#Improv

Bisi Bele Bath or Bisi Bele Huliyanna is a dish meal which is flavorsome, spicy and slightly tangy complete meal made with lentils, rice, mixed vegetables and a super aromatic spice powder. This is a famous Karnataka cuisine dish. It's actually a masala khichdi with lots of veggies. The term “Bisi bele bath” translates to “Hot Lentil Rice Dish”. “Bisi” is a Kannada word meaning “Hot”, “Bele” translates to “Lentils” and “Bath” is a word that denotes a “Soupy Rice".

Bisi Bele Bath is so popular that you get it so easily in the South Indian restaurants in Bangalore.  To make this dish I have used readymade Bisi Bele Bath masala, which is readily available in any store. I am sharing the quick and delicious way to prepare this dish/ a pressure cooker version. 

Serve 5 as a complete meal
Ingredients
1 Cup Short Grain Rice(- washed)
1/3 Cup Tur Dal
1 Medium Onion - chopped
1 Teaspoon Finely Chopped Ginger
1 Large Tomato - chopped
8 - 10 Beans - cut into big bits
½ Cup Green Peas - I used frozen
½ Cup Cauliflower Florets - I used frozen
½ Cup Pumpkin - cut into medium cubes
½ Cup Carrot - cut into medium cubes
2 Small Potato - cut into medium cubes
½ Cup Diced Capsicum - I used Red , Yellow and Green - you can use any one color
½ Cup Tamarind Juice
1½ Tablespoons Level Bisi Bele Bath Powder
¼ Teaspoon + ½ Teaspoon Salt or to taste
For The Tadka
½ Cup Oil
1½ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida
2 Sprig Curry Leaves
¼ Cup Cashewnuts or Raw Peanuts - I used Cashewnuts
2 Dried Red Chillies

Method
For Cooking The Veggies

In a pressure cooker add the all the veggies, beans, pumpkin, potato , carrot ( since I used frozen cauliflower and peas I did not add to the cooker. If you are using fresh then add this to the cooker). Add ¼ teaspoon salt and ½ cup water. Take one whistle on high flame. Let the cooker cool completely. Strain the stock & veggies. Keep them aside separately.

In the same cooker add the rice and lentils, with ½ teaspoon salt. Measure the stock from the veggies. Add total 5 cups water. Keep it on medium high flame and take 5 whistles. The rice and lentils should be mushy, then you do not need to mash them.

In a big kadai/ pot heat oil, add the mustard seeds, when they splutter add the asafoetida, curry leaves , dried red chillies and cashewnuts sauté for a minute or till the cashewnuts turn golden. Remove ½ of the tadka and keep aside for garnish ( this is optional).
Now add the capsicum, peas and cauliflower, saute for a minute or two. Then add all the cooked veggies, the bisi bele bath powder and saute till it releases an aroma, say for 2 minutes on medium low flame. 

Add the tamarind water and cooked rice dal mix. Give it a good mix, add more hot water if necessary to make it a soupy dish. Let this simmer for 4-5 minutes so that the flavors infuse on very low flame, covered with a lid. Taste for salt,  add accordingly.  After 4 -5 minutes switch off the flame. 

Serve garnished with the remaining tadka this hot. As this cools the rice and dal will absorb most of the stock and will thicken. 

We enjoyed this hot with fried rice papad or falafel. pickle and raita. Bisi bele bath is a delicious complete and healthy meal. My guest enjoyed this meal. Do try this recipe, you will definitely fall in love with it.

Labels : Khichdi, Karnataka, Rice, Lentils, Mixed Veggies, Pumpkin, Complete Meal, Healthy, Vegan, Gluten free, Main course, Tur Dal, Pressure Cooker, Improv Cooking Challenge

Improv Cooking Challenge

Squash & Rice

Bisi Bele Bath by Sneha's Recipes
Butternut Squash Methi Pulao by Magical Ingredients
Butternut Squash Rice Pudding by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Pilaf by Palatable Pastime

A Spooky Cat Pasta Lentil Soup#SoupSwappers

When Wendy our Host and author of Soup Swapper's group gave us the theme" Spooky Soups and Stews"for this month's event. This was the first recipe that came to my mind. 

Now starts my hunt for a cat shape cookie cutter, couldn't find one. Got after my hubby to make the template.  

When I posted this soup pic on what's app to my sister's , they said will make the soup without the cat, looks so spooky!! Laughed and replied this is for my spooky soup event. My daughter said that cat looks so real and morbid.

But nevertheless, this makes a hearty meal, a satisfying comfort food, that is a sweet, just mildly spiced and packed with proteins.  You can have this as a hearty soupy meal like we did or serve over rice.

We enjoyed this as our lunch or can have it for dinner, it's a meal in itself and is popularly known as Indian style Pasta in a lentils.

Serves 3 as a complete and filling meal
Ingredients
1/8 Cup Tur Dal
1/8 Cup Sabut Urad/Beluga Lentils
1/8 Cup Split Green Moong
1/8 Cup Raw Peanuts
1 Medium Tomato - chopped
2 Tablespoons Oil
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Red Chili powder
1 Teaspoon Heaped Homemade Curry powder
1 Teaspoon Jaggery
¼ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
2 Tablespoons Chopped Onion
1 Teaspoon Chopped Coriander Leaves
1 Teaspoon Ginger Juliennes
1 Teaspoon Lemon juice - optional
For the Cat Pasta

½ Cup Whole Wheat Flour
½ Cup Besan/Chickpea Flour
¼ Teaspoon Salt or to taste
A Pinch Black pepper powder
A Pinch Turmeric powder
A Pinch Asafoetida
¼ Teaspoon Carom seeds - rub them on your palms
¼ Teaspoon Kasuri Methi - rub them on your palms
1 Tablespoon Oil
Water as required to make a soft dough
For Tadka
2 Tablespoons Oil
5 Grains Fenugreek Seeds
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
½ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
3 Cloves Garlic - minced
1" Pieces Ginger - minced

Method

Wash the lentils well. In a pressure cooker add all the washed lentils and 2 cups water, let it cook on high flame for one whistle, then reduce the flame to low and keep it for 10 minutes. Switch off the flame, let the cooker cool.

When the cooker is cooled, add the washed raw peanuts and again place the cooker on high flame. Take one whistle on high flame. Reduce the flame to low and let it cook for 7 minutes. Switch of the flame, let the cooker cool completely.
As the lentils are cooking let's make our Cat Pasta Dough

Mix all the ingredients and knead into soft dough. 

Cover this dough and let it rest for 20 - 30 minutes.
Coming back to our Lentil Soup

In a pot/kadai that has a broad base, heat oil, add the fenugreek, mustard and cumin seeds when the splutter add the chopped onion, ginger juliennes. Sauté till the onion soften, now add the minced ginger, garlic and sauté for a minute add the curry powder, red chilly, turmeric powder and salt, sauté

add the cooked lentils, add the tomato and water (2 to 2½ cups ) to make a watery consistency ( since the cat pasta will absorb most of the gravy when added ). Bring this to a rolling boil, give it a quick stir, cover and let it simmer for 15 minutes on very low flame, stirring after every 3 -4 minutes. Add the jaggery and taste for salt and seasonings, add accordingly. Cover and let it simmer again.
Back to our Cat Pasta

Roll the dough and cut the cat shape pasta using the above template. 

Make eyes and mouth with sliced olives and keep them aside. I wanted to make the eyes and mouth with black olives but didn't have it.

After 15 minutes of the lentil soup boiling add the cat shaped pasta into the simmering pot, cover and let it cook for 15 minutes or till the cat pasta surfaces. Once cooked the pasta will float to the surface. Garnish it with coriander leaves and lemon juice. 

Serve into large bowls and enjoy!!

What a satisfying meal !!

Labels : Tur Dal, Sabut Urad Dal, Split Green Moong, Homemade Curry Powder, Chickpea Flour, Whole Wheat Flour, Soup, Soup Swappers, Indian, Vegan, Main Course, Pasta, Healthy 

Check other recipes of October 2020 Soup Swappers Event 

A Spooky Cat Pasta Lentil Soup by Sneha's Recipe

Anti-Vampire Potion (Garlic & Cheese Soup) by Palatable Pastime

Bat Wing Soup by Making Miracles

Bloody Night Soup (Roasted Beet Soup) by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Garlic Soup with Gruyère Cheese Toast by Karen's Kitchen Stories

Hungarian Pork Ghoul-ash by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Pumpkin Ale Soup with Pork Eyeball Meatballs by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice

Ambat Varan

This is a CKP Special Maharashtrian Dal.  Tur Dal / Pigeon Lentils cooked with tamarind and jaggery. It has a delicious sweet and tangy taste, a comfort , soul food and everyone's favorite,  especially my daughter's. She had this at a restaurant and would pester me to prepare it, made it for our Diwali lunch. She enjoyed it with just steamed rice. After having her lunch she exclaimed Ma! over ate my lunch today, it was delicious and real soul food, loved it!

Here is the recipe for this simple and delicious soul filling meal.

Ingredients
1 Cup Tur Dal / Pigeon Lentils
1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
A pinch of Asafoetida / Hing
1 Medium Onion -chopped
2 Big Light Green chilies - made into pieces
1 Tablespoon Jaggery
2 Tablespoon Thick Tamarind paste
1 Teaspoon Salt or to taste

To Grind to paste

1/2 Cup Freshly Grated Coconut 

1/3 Cup Fresh Coriander Leaves  

4 Curry Leaves

For Tadka / Tempering
1 Big Curry Spoon Oil
1 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
A pinch of Asafoetida / Hing

Method

Wash and soak the dal for at least 30 minutes .

Pressure cook the dal with turmeric powder, pinch  of asafoetida, onion, green chilies and sufficient water till  soft and tender.

In the meanwhile as the dal is getting cooked, lets grind the  coconut paste.

In a blender jar add coconut, coriander and curry leaves, add  2 tablespoons water and grind it to a fine paste. 

Once the dal is cooked transfer the dal to large pan / kadai add coconut paste and  water enough to make a thick consistency, then add  salt, jaggery and tamarind paste. Keep it on high flame stirring till it come to rolling boil, reduce the flame and  let it simmer, stirring at intervals so that the dal does not settle at the base of the pan and get burnt. Let simmer for 7 to 10 minutes on low flame,  keep stirring at intervals.  Taste for salt and the sourness of dal, add more of either if necessary. 

Now let's prepare the Tempering / Tadka

Heat oil in a small pan, add mustard seeds when it crackles take off flame, add the asafoetida and immediately pour this on to the simmering dal. Cover with a lid, switch off the flame and let is stand for 5 to 7 minutes.   Ambat Varan is ready.

Serve hot with rice or chapatti and a teaspoon  of desi ghee on rice... hmmm delicious.

The next day with the remaining dal.  I, had it with stale chapatti broken into pieces, heated the Ambat Varan poured it over the chappati pieces,  added  a teaspoon of desi ghee. Let it soak for a couple of mins and then relished it.. hmmm.. delicious....

Labels : Dal, Vegetarian, Vegetables, Ambat  Varan, CKP Cuisine, Maharashtra,  Maharastrian Cuisine, Healthy, Complete Meal

Tomato Pappu / Tomato Dal - Andhra Style

This dal is nutritious and flavorful it's made from softened pigeon peas, sauteed with onion, tomato and  a blend of spices. Dal is an integral dish of every Indian kitchen. This is an Andhra vegetarian dish, also know as Tomato Pappu . Pappu in Telugu language is known as the dal.

Ingredients
1 Cup Tur Dal / Pigeon Peas
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin seeds
A Sprig Curry Leaves
1 Large Onion - finely chopped
8 Cloves Garlic  - lightly crushed
4 Green Chillies - seeded and slit
1 Teaspoon  Red Chilly powder
2  Tablespoons Oil
1 Tablespoon Butter
4 Big Tomatoes - chopped
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1/2 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
1/2 Teaspoon  Salt or according to taste

For the Tempering 

1 Tablespoon Oil

1/2  Teaspoon Mustard seeds

1/2 Teaspoon Cumin seeds

A Sprig Curry Leaves

3 Dried Red Chillies
A pinch of Asafoetida

Coriander leaves chopped for garnishing

Method

Wash and soak the dal for at least an hour.
Then rinse the dal in fresh water. In a pressure cooker, add the dal and water an inch above the dal, bring it to a rolling boil,  remove. the scum that surfaces then close the pressure cooker with the lid and pressure cook for about 8 to 10 minutes or for 2 whistles. Let the cooker  cool down.

Meanwhile, heat oil in the pot/ kadai, add 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds, cumin seeds and when they start to splutter, add the garlic crushed and saute it for a second only, add turmeric, curry leaves onion, green chillies and saute for a minute or till the onion is translucent. Add tomato, salt,  cook until the tomatoes become soft and mushy. Add the butter,  dal and 2 cups water or according to the consistency you require give it a quick stir. Reduce the flame to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes stirring in between.

For the tempering 

Heat a tablespoon of oil in pan, add mustard, cumin seeds, whole red chilly, curry leaves and asafoetida let it sizzle, then pour this over the dal.   Serve hot,   garnish with coriander leaves and enjoy with steamed rice or roti, chapatti, or naan. 

Labels : Vegetables, Tur Dal, Lentils, Healthy, Vegan