Bisibele Bath with Poha

My friend suggested this dish, when I was researching easy and nutritious dishes for Aman Setu. Poha Bisibelebath is a slightly different version of traditional Bisibelebath. Rice and tuvar dal are substituted with Poha and moong dal. With vegetables, dal and poha, it is very nutritive. Compared to the traditional fare I find this version lighter on the stomach.

Serves 3-4

Preparation time : 30 mins

Cooking time : 45 mins

Ingredients:

For Bisibelepath powder:

4 tbsp coriander seeds (dhania)

1 tsp bengal gram (chana dal)

½ tsp fenugreek seeds (methi)

7-8 black pepper corns

2-3 cloves (lavang)

½ inch stick cinnamon

1 tsp khus khus

2 tbsp desiccated coconut

8 red chillies

Pinch of asefoetida (hing)

For Bisibelebath:

1/2 cup moong dal (100 gms)

1 1/2 cup thick poha

1 carrot

6-8 beans

1 stick of drumstick

1 tsp tamarind paste

salt to taste

For tadka/tempering:

1 tbsp ghee

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 sprig of curry leaves

2 red chilies broken into 1 inch pieces

1 tbsp peanuts

Dry roast all the ingredients listed for bisibelepath powder and grind them. You can store this powder in an airtight container and it can last for a few months.

Cut all the veggies into 1 inch big chunks. Wash the moong dal. Cook the moong dal and the vegetables in a pressure cooker. While the dal is being cooked, wash and soak the poha and set it aside. Once the dal is cooked transfer in a large cooking pan and add the soaked poha. Mix well and add more water to maintain a thick gravy like consistency. Remember as the bisibele cools down, the dish will become thicker. Add the tamrind paste and cook for another 5 minutes. Keep adding water, if required to maintain the consistency.

While the bisibele cooks, heat a pan and add 1tbsp ghee. Put in the mustard seeds and cumin seeds. After the seeds splutter add curry leaves, hing, red chilies and peanuts. Fry them for 3-4 mins till the peanuts are roasted also put in 2tbsp of the bisibele powder. Season bisibelebath with tadka and serve hot with something crunchy like bundi or potato chips.