Bisi bele bath

Bisi bele bath, translated to hot lentil rice, is an aromatic and spicy dish originating from the Indian state of Karnataka. Moist rice and lentils are combined with ghee butter, tamarind, curry leaves, nutmeg, and vegetables such as carrots, beans, onions, and green peas.

According to K. T. Achaya, a food historian, bisi bele bath is a modern variation of an old dish from the 10th century called kattogara, consisting of rice, ghee, salt, and garlic. However, others disagree and claim that the dish was invented in Mysore Palace, near Bangalore, when it was a typical lunch meal that was additionally flavored with cashews, dried coconut, mustard seeds, and cinnamon.

Originally, there were no vegetables in the dish since the royals had access to numerous vegetable-based side dishes. As time went by, bisi bele bath became popular outside of the palace and evolved in a rich farmer's meal that was typically consumed before lunch, after a few hours of hard labor in the fields.

Today, the dish is consumed throughout the day, and it is also a popular picnic dish throughout Karnataka.