bisi bele bhaath - Indian Supper Club

Ingredients

• Ingredients for Bisi Bele masala:
• 1 ½ tsp good quality curry powder or sambhar masala
• ¾ tsp garam masala
• ½ tsp each: chilli or paprika powder and turmeric powder
• ¼ tsp asafoetida powder (available in most Indian grocery shops/ online)
• 1 ½ tbsp each: sesame and white poppy seeds (out of India- use the European black poppyseed)
• ¼ cup dried desiccated coconut
• Other ingredients:
• ½ cup tuvar dal (pidgeon pea split) - washed 2-3 times. If possible, soak in some warm water for 2-3 hours, to shorten the cooking time.
• 1 medium-sized onion, cut into large cubes
• 1 heaped cupfull of mixed vegetables (carrot cut in half moons, cauliflower florets, French or broad beans- cut 3 cm long)
• 3/4 cup rice (not Basmati)- wash 3 times, drain
• 3-4 cups hot water
• 3 tbsp tamarind pulp ( in hot water, soak a ball of tamarind the size of a large lemon, then squish with your fingers to extract the pulp)
• 1 tsp sea salt/ or to taste
• A sprig of fresh curry leaves / 10 dried curry leaves
• 1 tbsp of Ghee or coconut oil to garnish
• Optional: 1/4 cup split cashews fried in a tbsp of coconut oil- for garnish