Daliya (Broken wheat) transformed South Indian Style!

Daliya(Broken wheat) Bisi Bele Bhaat(BBB)

Technically this title/recipe name is wrong! Cos there is no rice/Bhaat in this Bisi Bele Bhaat. As most Indians know, Bisi bele Bhat is an extremely popular South Indian Dish made of rice and dal. Its basically rice and sambar mixed in one easy/healthy dish. Add veggies and the distinct bisi bele bhat masala and you get a super yummy one dish meal in itself. Bisi bele bhat is a hot favorite in any traditional meal for a special occasion - be it weddings or house warming or any other function that calls for a meal!

It tends to be a very heavy meal and when we were kids, we often called it cement concrete, cos after eating it you feel very full for a long time.. :-D I tasted this healthy version of BBB without rice, in my friend Ramya's lunch box. Her mom had substituted rice with broken wheat as a healthier option. 

Now I make this version of BBB pretty often as it is super quick to make and serves as a wholesome meal and a perfect lunchbox item! It takes about 10 minutes + pressure cooker time and is really really tasty. In office when I eat this in my lunchbox, I feel like it is the ultimate comfort food in this cold weather - warm, spicy and mushy! :) Ready made Bisi bele bhat masala is very easily available in any Indian store. I toss in the frozen veggies which makes my cooking time minimal. Try it! Its a super quick fix lunch/dinner.

What you need : (Serves 2 people)

-1/2 cup broken wheat/daliya
-1/2 cup dal (I use a mixure of toor dal/moong dal and masoor dal)
-Chopped veggies (beans, carrots, peas, corn, cauliflower, potato... any veggie u like!) Use frozen veggies!

-Onion chopped

-Capsicum chopped (optional - but I really like the taste it adds!)

-1 medium Tomato chopped

-Curry leaves - 3 to 4

-1 tsp tamarind paste (optional)

-2 to 3 tsp Bisi bele bhat masala

-Red chilly powder and salt to taste

-Jaggery - little bit

-Oil, mustard, cumin seeds, hing, turmeric for tempering.

Method :

1) Mix the daliya and Dal in a bowl and wash it well. Rinse about 2 times. Drain the water.

2) In a pressure cooker, heat oil. Add the ingredients for the tempering in that order.

3) Add curry leaves. Toss in a few peanuts if you like.

4) Add the onions and capsicum. Saute for a minute.

5) Add the chopped veggies and tomato.

6) Next add tamarind paste, masala, jaggery and the dal mixture. Mix well.

7) Add about 3 cups of water. Add salt and red chilly powder to taste.

8) Pressure cook for about 4-5 whistles.

Adjust the water and number of whistles depending on how mushy or dry you want your Bisi bele bhat to be.

The above recipe yields a soft and smooth consistency. (Yum :D )

Enjoy when its hot with some ghee on it!!! :) Goes well with raita/salad/papad/chips.