Besi Bele Bath

Besi Bele Bath differs from Sambar Sadham in the masala, which is added to it. Following is the recipe which always works out for me. Just have this Besi Bele Bath hot, with a pappad for a wonderful treat!!! The recipe follows..

Recipe For : 2

Preparation Time : 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Par Boiled Rice            - 1 cup (Pulungal Arisi)
Toor Dal                       - 1/2 cup (Thuvaram Parupu)
Carrot                           - 1
Potato                           - 1
French Beans               - 6 to 8
Fresh Peas                    - a handful
Butter Beans                 - a handful
Small onion                  - 8 to 10
Tomato                         - 1 (big)
Tamarind                      - a lemon size ball
Mustard Seeds              - 1 tsp
Asafoetida                    - a pinch (Hing or Perungayam)
Salt                               - As required
Turmeric Powder         - 1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves               - few
Coriander Leaves         - few
Oil                                - 2 tbsp

For the Masala:

Grated Coconut    - 1/4 cup
Poppy Seeds         - 1/4 tsp (Khas -Khas)
Dry Red Chili       - 4
Coriander Seeds   - 1/2 tsp (Malli or Dhaniya)
Channa Dal          - 1/2 tsp (Kadalai Parupu)

Procedure:

• Wash and soak Rice and Toor Dal for 30 minutes. After that cook it in 5 cups of water for a whistle.
• Chop carrot, potato and french beans into bigger pieces. Cook all the vegetables. You can also add cauliflower. Peel small onion. If its big, chop it also into two. Chop tomatoes finely,
• Dry roast grated coconut and poppy seeds. Roast in oil dry red chili, channa dal and coriander seeds. Grind both together adding little water. Extract juice from Tamarind. I would suggest you to add at least 1/2 cup of water for extracting tamarind so that gravy will be little watery which will help Besi Bele Bath to achieve required consistency.
• Heat oil in  a pan. You can also use Ghee.Add mustard seeds and curry leaves to it. When they splutter add asafoetida followed by small onion.
• After the onions turn translucent, add cooked vegetables.
• Add also chopped tomato, salt and turmeric powder.
• When both onions and tomatoes are cooked well, add ground masala. Saute till raw flavor goes off and then add tamarind  extract.
• Let it boil for 2 more minutes, so that everything gets mixed up together and after that switch off the flame. Add it to cooked rice and dal. Give it a good stir. Enjoy your Besi Bele Bath hot with Pappad!!