Bisibelebath in crockpot

Crockpot is also called slow cooker. This was something new to me and have been thinking of investing in for a while. Since we're rice eaters and use rice cooker quite a lot, almost everyday you can say, wasn't sure it will be of any use for me. Last november I went ahead and bought one of these and I fell in love . It's easy, simple and heavy of course. Have been trying dishes which might reduce my cooking and staying in the kitchen time.( my long cooking time, that's why I said I love it).

I have tried couple of dishes now and I still go and check every now and then to see if it needs any more liquid or is it boiling or is it burnt :P. But now have got an idea and still up for experiments. This one is of those experiment dishes I did and know now what changes I need to make next time. Crockpots are perfect for working ladies and whose family demands for fresh hot meals.

This crockpot  is a very basic one and has only 3 settings and there're quite in the market with automatic ones. This one is working well for me. I would definitely recommend who wants to buy a crockpot, don't hesitate give it a try. 

I guess it was big into on CROCKPOT, now lets get talking about the dish, Bisibelebath a South Indian Dish very well known and favorite for most of them. It's a main dish with lentil and rice with vegetables. It's a super filler and very tasty. It can be altered according to your spice levels/tastes. It is usually eaten with a yogurt dip(Raitha) and chips. My kids call this dish as BB Bath and we do have started to call it that way. So let's see what all we need to prepare it.

Ingredients:

1 cup Toor Dal

2cups Rice( uncooked)

2 cups fresh/ frozen vegetables( I used Greeb beans, carrot, peas, potato, capsicum)

1 medium sized onion chopped

1-2tbsp BBbath powder

1tsp tamarind paste

A small ball of jaggery

1 Tomato

Few curry leaves

1tbso oil

1/2tsp Mustard seeds

1/2 tsp Urad dal

5-7 Peanuts

1tsp turmeric powder

Method:

First cook the Toor dal in pressure cooker for 3 whistles. In a small pan add oil and once it's hot put mustard seeds, as the splatter add urad dal, peanut & curry leaves. Now add capsicum and fry for couple of mins until the capsicum is soft. Now pour this into the crock pot and add cooked dal, washed / thawed vegetables, and the rest of the ingredients except rice. Give it a nice stir and add rice.  Now add 8 cups water and salt to taste. Finally cover it and turn it on to low for 5 hrs or high for 2.5-3 hrs.. It's a perfect warm meal for any day.

Serve it with Raitha, chips and ghee.

Tips: 

1. Never add Dal/lentil directly before you precook it. Otherwise the Lentil will not break down and it will get to that consistency. 

2. Check for enough water, as each rice needs different amount.

3. Choose any vegetables you like.

4. 2 cups rice yields for 4 people easily.

Eat it warm with Raita and chips.Enjoy! Happy Cooking. My next dish would be vegetable Lasagna in Crockpot.