Bisibela Bath aka Vegetable Khichdi - Comforting Protein and Fiber Rich Simple One Pot Wonder --- And more awards!!!

Here i am with my simple sumptuous one pot wonder meal with rice, lentils, beans and vegetables warmed up with some exotic spices making it a wholesome, no-fuss, quick and easy meal , fit for any busy day.. When i say quick it doesn't mean any less in flavor and taste..I made this Nutritious fiber and protein rich Bisibelabath / Vegetable Khichidi by adding everything into my pressure pan and bubble into one simple delicious delight .

I like the idea of fitting these one pot meals into my food regime not just because of the energy savings, but the simplicity and nutrition involved in cooking them. Usually the one pot meals that come to me are, Vegetable Khichidi, Pongal, Bisibilla bath( Bisibeda) , Pulao/ Biriyani, Lentil Soup using my pressure pan/cooker and these will be done in less than half an hour from start to finish . My idea of having a one pot dish, includes not mere using anything on hand, but incorporating protein and fiber rich ingredients like lentils, pulses, rice , fresh vegetables and never forget the aromatic herbs and spices.


This rice and vegetable medley reminds me of Kadamba Sadam that is served as offering to god during Srirama Navami at a temple near my grandmas place and then distribute as prasad to everyone else.. When i say prasadam, its not just a little but that portion would be so huge, it would be atleast sufficent for 2 meals. Coming to my Bisibelabath , i use any sambar powder/ guthi vanakaya karam on hand along with some fresh/dry coconut and jazz it up with spices like Cloves and Cinnamon.. Using Edamame in a familiar dish like this is an easy way to incorporate soy protein into your diet - You get around 3 gms of soy protein and the protein from lentils would even double the score. This Khichidi comes to my rescue when i am crunching on time and i must admit its my favorite complete comforting meal..

You need:

  • 2/3 cups rice
  • 1/3 cup toor dal
  • 1/2 cup of chopped Sorakai / Bottle gourd
  • 1 large / 2 small vine ripe Tomatoes
  • 1/2 large red potato
  • 1/3 - 1/2 cup Soybeans / Edamame( can replace with green peas )
  • 1 carrot
  • 10-15 green beans
  • 5 green chillies
  • small lime sized tamarind , soaked in hot water
  • 2-3 tbsp any sambar powder / guthi vankaya karam( ill post the recipe soon after asking mom )
  • 1 tbsp dry / fresh coconut scraped

For tempuring/tadka:

  • 4 cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds


How to:

  • Prep vegetables first -- Peel Sorakaya/bottle gourd and chop into 2 inch long thin pieces, tomato into diced cubes, Potato into 1 inch squares, green beans into 1 inch long, Carrot 1/2 inch cubes or thin discs, green chillies lengthwise and onions length wise

  • Clean both dal/lentils and rice together and keep it aside with water

  • In a pressure pan, add 3 tbsp oil do the tadka along with cloves and cinnamon stick, once the mustard seeds start to splutter add turmeric, curry leaves, onions and green chillies. Saute for a min and then add tomatoes and saute for 2 more min, now add the masala powder and then the veggies in order, sorakaya, carrots , beans, soybeans/green peas and then saute for few more min

  • Drain off the water from the soaked dal and rice, add it the vegetable and spice mixture and let the masala coat everything

  • Fill the pressure pan/cooker with 3 - 4 cups water and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Once the pressure comes out, check for doneness and add tamarind pulp, salt and little bit of sugar to enhance the taste..,simmer for 3-5 min and let everything come together...

  • Add chopped cilantro and a big dollop of ghee just before serving... Voila, a simple fulfilling meal is ready to relish!!!

Note:

  • There are no hard and fast rules as to use only the vegetables specified here, you can add whatever you like( no mushroom please ). Sometimes for extra Vitamin A, i would add some spinach tooo.

  • Alternatively, if you have a compartment pressure cooker, you can add rice and dal together in one container and all vegetables except onions and tomatoes in another container. Once pressure cooked, Do the tadka in a Kadai / large sauce pan, fry onions and then add tomatoes, once cooked add the tamarind pulp, masala powders and let it simmer for 2 min, then add the cooked vegetables cook for 5 more mins and add the cooked rice and dal mixture.. You can add more water to get your required consistency... Garnish with cilantro and a dollop of ghee/butter.. This is how my mom usually makes..,but i do look out for shortcuts and sometimes, i miserably fail too,. but this one is to keep though!!

MORE AWARDS: I have been showered with some more awards by my dear friends and i feel so proud and elated.. thanks guys.. you make my day!!!

Thanks a bunch Sripriya of Srikars kitchen for this wonderful award....

Thanks Illatharasi for showering me with this YUM YUM Blog Award..

Thanks Illatharasi, again for considering my blog as YUMMY. Thanks dear for both the awards.

I would like to pass on these awards to every fellow blogger who always inspire me with their expertise...

EVENTS : Now coming to the end, my simple spicy vegetable rice and lentil medley is on its way to:

27 comments:

  1. Looks awesome! I love bisibelebath... And congrats on all your awards!

    Thanks for visiting my blog and you do have some wonderful recipes here too!

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  2. I love BBB too much., tried it once and now its a regular meal in home :) .
    thank you for being a part of Vow -Bottlegourd family :)

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  3. looks delicious...tasty and a great meal....ur blog is too good..congrates on ur awards

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  4. I love Bisebela bath...It looks delicious and tasty...Congrats on all ur awards......

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  5. yum, yum kichdi! Looks awesome. Congrats on the awards.

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  6. I too prepare this kichadi:) Picture is perfect!
    Congrats for the awards... you deserve them:)

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  7. nice color of the bisibelebath....never had much liking for it though even when had meals in hyderabad....:)

    Enjoy all ur awards

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  8. Delicious.One dish four events..bravo..Congrats on the awards.

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  9. Hey! BBB was my dinner last night. It looks lovely, one complete & healthy meal.. Of for so many events.. god one!

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  10. Bisibelebath is a great dish combining veggies and rice.Yours look delicious,a great array of veggies!!healthy and tasty!!

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  11. love bisisbelebaath..make it often..looks delicious...
    congrats on the awards..

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  12. Such a pretty medley of colours!
    Adding edamame is a great way to up the protein content of any dish, would surely have tasted great in BBB.
    Enjoy your awards!

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  13. Sujatha.., same here,, i do sometimes crave for my moms Bisibela Bath though!!

    Yes Pooja, love to use bottlegourd / sorakaya in this Bisibeda.

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  14. Thanks Suma and Sireesha, glad u liked ,my food blog..

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  15. Thanks Uma and Illatharasi, i can have this BBB( bisibeda ) any time of the day... Protein and fiber rich packed Rice and Vegetable Medley

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  16. Anonymous12:57 PM

    Love bisibelabath my all time fav dish. Congrats on all your awards.

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  17. I love BBB a lot and it truly is the perfect one pot meal. Looks yummy.

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  18. great entry dear....i luv BB a lot and it reminds me of any function back at my place as it will always have this in its menu ....

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  19. slurrrrrrrrrrp.......BBB is my fav too. It looks so nice there. Congratulations on those awards.

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  20. looks yummy! and its healthy too.

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  21. Bhags, yep my husband still doesnt like to have BBB., as he had this so much In bangalore when he was doing his bachelors... I love this bisibeda so much though!!!

    Thanks Maheswari, i could never get enogh of this Protein rich vegetable and rich dish.. My all time favorite food..

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  22. Yes Seema, the best part of having this dish as meal is that its is so filling and nutritious..

    Thanks Divya, sometimes i do even add chayote squash( seema vankaya ), flat beans, sprouted whole moong dal, and some good home made mango pickle enhances the sublte falvors of the bisibelabath

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  23. Thanks Sowmya for stopping by, the first n foremost healthy food i could thick of with no huss and hassle, is my Vegetable Bisibelabath...

    Thanks DelhiBelle, its hard for me to get Edamame/Soy Beans in regualr american grocery store say Publix, so i have to make an exclusive trip to Whole Foods to get some, and when i go i would come out with atleast 5 packets of edamame.. i love it eat them boiled, toss in some curry or better in this Bisibeda..

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  24. I like bisibela bhat, but so far never tried. try this soon.

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  25. Oh Bhawana, you should give this Bisibeda a quick try.. So easy, so tasty and so healthy, you couldnt for anymore in this simple dish dear

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  26. I love my pressure cooker too! Simple comfort food that's good for the planet. Congratualtions on all your awards.

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  27. Chitchat1:23 PM

    Hi, your bisibelebath looks awesome. Stumbled on your blog thro' a link. You have a beautiful blog with easy recipes to follow.

    Chitchat
    http://chitchatcrossroads.blogspot.com/

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Thanks for stopping by, reading my posts and leaving your wonderful comments and suggestions. Hope you would visit again for more of my culinary adventures. Happy cooking!!