Bisi bele bath powder

Authentic Karnataka Bisi Bele Bath Powder

Bisi bele bath is one of the few dishes that belongs almost entirely to Karnataka. The name itself is Kannada — bisi (hot), bele (lentil), bath (rice). It is a one-pot meal of rice, dal, vegetables and tamarind, held together by a masala that is unlike any other South Indian blend. This is that masala, made the way it has been made in Karnataka homes for generations.

What Goes Into It

A real bisi bele bath powder needs more spices than a sambar powder. Coriander seeds, dried red chillies, chana dal, urad dal, fenugreek, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, dried coconut, curry leaves and turmeric. The dried coconut is the giveaway — it is what gives the dish its slight sweetness and body. We dry roast it before grinding, otherwise it turns rancid quickly.

Our chillies come from Andhra Pradesh. The dals and spices come from regions known for them. The coconut is dry roasted in our kitchen, not bought in pre-roasted form.

How We Make It

Each ingredient is roasted on a low flame, by itself. The dals roast longer than the spices. The coconut is roasted last and shortest, until just golden. Everything cools and is ground together in a small grinder. We do not use industrial mills, and each batch is small enough to be sold within weeks. Nothing else is added — no preservatives, no anti-caking agents, no MSG.

How to Make Bisi Bele Bath

Cook one cup of rice and three-fourth cup toor dal together with turmeric. In a kadhai, sauté chopped vegetables — carrot, beans, peas, capsicum, a bit of pumpkin — with tamarind extract from a small lemon-sized ball of tamarind. Add the cooked rice and dal, salt, two to three tablespoons of bisi bele bath powder, and water to adjust consistency. Simmer for ten minutes. Temper with mustard seeds, curry leaves, cashew nuts and a generous spoon of ghee. Serve hot with raita and crisp boondi.

This recipe serves four. The masala is the soul of the dish, so do not skimp.

What Makes Karnataka Bisi Bele Bath Powder Different

Most "bisi bele bath powders" sold online are reformulated sambar powders. A real Karnataka bisi bele bath powder has dried coconut, more cinnamon and cloves, and a different proportion of dal to spice. The dish has its own logic — it is heavier than sambar, sweeter, more aromatic. The masala has to match. Ours does.

Storage

Airtight container, cool dry place. Six months. The dried coconut keeps longer when the jar is kept away from heat and sunlight.

Shipped From Bangalore

We ship across Karnataka and India through Delhivery. Bangalore in two to three days, rest of India in three to seven business days. Free shipping on orders above Rs 699. Cash on delivery available.

Try also: our vangi bath powder and sambar powder. See our full range of authentic Karnataka masalas.