Bisi Bele Huli Anna

This has been a childhood favorite of mine.., I remember coaxing my aunt (who is a specialist in making Bisi) to make some for me whenever she was visiting.. :).., So it comes as a surprise to me that I took such a long time to get this posted on my blog!! :) Bisi Bele Huli Anna., which is also known as Bisi Bele Bath I guess is originally a dish of Karnataka.., I remember the times when we were in Bengaluru and how I loved to gorge on Bisi.., so much so.., that Raj literally grew tired of it!! :D This tangy, Sambar type rice with all the veggies is a very healthy recipe (if one goes easy on the ghee and the nuts).., ideal for kids who fuss around veggies.., :) :) :).,

Happy Reading!!!

Bisi Bele Huli Anna

Serves: 4

Preparation Time:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Rice
• 1 cup Toor dal
• 1/2 cup Ghee
• 1 Potato, Cubed
• 2 Carrots, Cubed
• 1/2 a Cauliflower, Cubed ( You can avoid Cauliflower if you think the dish will get mushy.., but I myself personally lovee Bisi with all the veggies)
• 1/2 a cup Green Peas
• 1/2 a cup Chopped French Beans
• 1 Onion Diced
• Any other vegetable of your choice
• 1/2 a cup of Mint and Coriander Leaves ( you can choose to avoid the mint leaves if you want)
• 1/2 a cup of nuts ( Cashew, Almond, Groundnuts.., whole.., not chopped)
• Tamarind.., the size of a lemon
• 2 tsp Mustard seeds
• 2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 2 tsp Coriander Seeds
• 1 tsp Fenugreek Seeds
• A few each of Cardamom, Pepper seeds, Cloves
• 1/2 inch Cinnamon stick
• A Star Anise
• A tbsp each of Urad Dal, Chana Dal and Raw rice ( for tempering)
• 2 Dried red Chillies
• A few Curry leaves
• Salt to taste

Method:

Soak the tamarind in warm water. Pressure cook the rice and dal separately (add the vegetables to the dal and pressure cook it.) Simultaneously., toast (NOT BURN NOT ROAST.., JUST TOAST) the dry spices together along with the red chillies and curry leaves.. You can choose to dry toast them or you can add just a tsp of ghee and toast them. Let the mixture cool. Once cooled, grind the spice mixture into a coarse powder. Extract the tamarind pulp and to the tamarind juice add the spice mixture and bring it to boil. Add the cooked dal and carefully fold in (try not to break the veggies). Now add the rice to fold in.., Season with salt and check for taste. Add in some more water( the amount of water depends on how watery or thick you want the Bisi to be) and pressure cook for about 10 mins or till two whistles go by.. Turn off the stove. Transfer contents into a serving bowl. Heat the ghee, add the nuts and half the coriander/mint leaves.., fry for a minute and add garnish the Bisi Bele Hili Anna with the nut/ghee/coriander mixture..., Serve piping hot with Papad/ Potato Chips/Boondi/ Sev.., :D :D :D Have a yummy meal... Slurp slurp..