Kodo Millet Bisi Bele Bath

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins | Serves: 5

Kodo Millet is also known as Varagu in Tamil, Arikelu in Telugu, Arka in Kanada and Kodra in Hindi. Millets are very healthy and nutritious grain. These are the best alternatives to Rice and Wheat. As a child I had food made with ragi and kambu but not exposed to other millet variety. Now with the growing health consciousness I decided to include millets regularly. So, here is my first recipe with kodo millet or varagu. I made bisi bele bath, the famous recipe of Karnataka with varagu and the taste was excellent and the aroma was out of the world. I’m sharing the recipe for cooking with Instant Pot (Electric Pressure Cooker).

Ingredients

Kodo millet/Varagu – 1 cup
Toor Dal – 1/3 cup
Shallots – 20
Carrot – 1
Potato – 1
Brinjal – 1
Capsicum – 1
Peas – 1/4 cup
Cauliflower – 5 small florets
Turmeric Powder – 1/2 tsp
MTR Bisi Bele Bath masala – 2 tbsp
Tamarind – small gooseberry size
Salt – as needed

To Temper

Oil – 2 tbsp
Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp
Cinnamon Stick – 1
Curry leaves – 1 spring
Cashew nut – 1 tbsp
Peanut – 1 tbsp

Method

1. Chop the vegetables into slightly chunky pieces. Peel the small onions and keep aside.
2. Soak Tamarind in 1/2 cup water and extract the juice.
3. Turn on the sauté mode in your IP. Once hot add oil, mustard seeds and cinnamon sticks. Allow the mustard seed to splutter.
4. Add cashew nuts, peanuts and fry until golden color.
5. Add all the vegetable, curry leaves and give a quick stir.
6. Then, add Millets, dal, tamarind water, turmeric, bisi bele bath masala and salt. Mix everything well.
7. Cancel sauté mode and add 3 cups of water.
8. Select multigrain option and decrease the timer to 15 mins (default timer: 40 mins) with vent closed.
9. Allow to it naturally release pressure and serve hot with a dollop of ghee.

I served bisi bele bath with tomato rice appalam and ragi appalam. It was very yummy.

Tips

1. To peel shallot onion easily, cut the edges and soak it in water for sometime. Peeling onions are far easier.
2. Don’t compromise on water. Use the amount of water mentioned here. If you feel you the bisi bele bath very thick add some water to loosen it and boil for 2 mins or if you find excess water after cooking, don’t worry the bisi bele bath will thicken with time.