Bisi Bele Bath (Bisibelebath) is a traditional recipe from Karnataka which is also popular in other South Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh. 'Bisi' means hot and 'bele' means pulses which are the main ingredients of a typical South Indian sambhar.
Typically, Bisibelebath is made without onion and garlic which makes it a good option for those who do not eat onion and garlic. However, you can use sambhar onions which are much smaller and milder as compared to the regular onions.
Dry coconut powder is a special ingredient in this recipe which blends all the ingredients and spices together to give you a lip-smacking bowl of delicious rice-daal preparation. Tomato can be added to this preparation if you prefer the sweet sour taste of tomatoes.
You can have it for breakfast, for a quick lunch and it proves to be a satiating evening snack as well. The combination of rice, pulses, and sambhar makes it an endearing dish in a typical South Indian household.
Also, it can be quickly made without extra efforts and is loved equally by both adults and kids. You need to control the use of chilies and spices in this recipe as extra spiciness will spoil the taste of this smooth and flavourful dish.
Variations of this recipe such as Tomato Bhat and Brinjal Bhat are also popular in the southern parts of India.
Bisi Bele Bath is a healthy option since it contains pulses, chopped veggies, drumstick and other ingredients that make it rich in proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients. You will also find this recipe in numerous hotels and tiffin providing centers of Karnataka since it is both nutritious and easy to cook.