Bisi Bele Bath

Bisi bele bath step-by-step recipe with photos.

Bisi bele bath – probably the first dish that comes to anyone’s mind when they think of food from Karnataka. Bisi bele bath means ‘hot lentil rice’ in Kannada, popularly known as BBB or bisi bele hulianna. Rice, pigeon pea lentil, vegetables cooked with freshly ground spices and finished with a generous helping of ghee or clarified butter – this dish ticks all the boxes. Tasty, healthy, nutritious, and extremely flavourful, this is a wholesome dish. This dish tastes best when made with ghee. But if you want to make a vegan version, skip the ghee and use oil instead.

I make this dish with homemade bisi bele bath masala powder. I then cook rice and vegetables together and add boiled pigeon pea lentil along with fresh masala powder. I then slow cook everything together and finish off with a simple tempering made with ghee.

I have shared the detailed recipe for making the masala powder here. I usually make a small amount of spice powder and use it up. However, you can double/triple the quantity and make a large batch of the spice mix. Store it in the refrigerator and use it as and when needed.

This masala powder is readily available in the market but making it at home makes the dish absolutely aromatic, flavourful, and delicious. It is really simple to make it too. Do give it a try and let me know how you like it.

Bisi bele bath step-by-step recipe with photos

1. Freshly made masala powder. Recipe here.

2. Heat ghee and prepare the tempering (seasoning) with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, ginger paste and hing

3. Add carrots and potatoes

4. Add the soaked rice. Add salt and water, and let it cook

5. Add remaining vegetables, cooked dal, tamarind pulp, jaggery, and the masala powder

6. Let it simmer until it all comes together