Rice dishes form one of the major attractions in South Indian festivals. Masala Bhath is one such kind which is tasty and can be made with the available ingredients.
Preparations for Ugadi are on in most of the houses. It is an important festival for the people of South India. It is also celebrated by Sindhis, Marwaris and Manipuris. It falls on  the first day known as Padya in the month of Chaitra of the Hindu calendar. This is considered as the beginning of new year.
People rise early in the morning, have an oil bath, decorate the house  with mango leaves and pooja is performed. The new panchanga is worshipped and it is customary to make an offering of neem and jaggery mixed with raw mango pieces. It is called as Bevu Bella. It signifies that we should accept both joy and sorrow gleefully.
Among the sweets, kheer and holige are usually prepared. Today, I am presenting a tasty Masala Bhath to you all. Do read further.
Here I am using capsicum, potatoes and peas. The potatoes and peas are parboiled. Fresh spice powder adds a good taste, though one can make it ahead and store. I prefer using the freshly made one.
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- Rice 1cup 250 grams
- potatoes 3
- peas 1 cup
- capsicum 2 large
- spice mix
- chilli powder
- salt to taste
- For seasoning :
- oil 3tbsp
- bengal gram 2 tsp
- urad dal 2 tsp
- asafoetida 1/4 tsp
- turmeric powder a pinch
- For the spice powder:
- coriander seeds 3tbsp
- bengal gram 1tbsp
- urad dal 1tbsp
- dry red chillies 6
- curry leaves a few
- cloves 2
- peppercorns 15
- cinnamon 1inch stick
- oil little for roasting
- Cook the rice seperately and keep it. Add less quantity of water while cooking. The grains should be seperate.
- Cut the veggies and keep them seperately.
- Boil the potatoes seperately, when they are half cooked you add peas to it. If you are using frozen peas, avoid doing this.
- Roast the ingredients seperately with a little oil given under the section :for the spice powder “
- When cool, grind them to a powder.
- Take a kadai and make the seasoning.
- Add mustard seeds, and as it crackles put the bengal gram and urad dal. Allow them to turn a little golden in colour. Add turmeric powder and asafoetida to it.
- Put the curry leaves and add the capsicum. Allow to cook for sometime.
- Then add the boiled veggies.
- Add salt and three tea spoons of ground spice mix.
- Add a little chilli powder and mix well.
- Now, add rice and mix gently.
- Masala bhath is ready to serve.
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Capsicum is cut into pieces.
Potatoes are cut and put in water. Wash it thoroughly.
I store peas in deep freezer, hence I put them in water.
Rice is cooked and once the pressure is released I have put it in a wide plate to cool.
Potatoes are put to boil first, later I added peas to it.
Take oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds, as it crackles, then add bengal gram and urad dal. Add in good quantity, they taste great while eating. Then add curry leaves, asafoetida and turmeric powder.
Wash the capsicum pieces and put them into it.
Once they are cooked, add the boiled veggies.
Now add the spice mix. Ingredients for spice mix are given above. Add three teaspoon of the masala powder and a little chilly powder. Put salt also.
Add the cooked rice and mix well. You can garnish with coriander leaves.
Masala Bhath is ready to serve.
Do check out my other dish also.
Soon coming on the blog Ugadi Special !
Very tasty rice dish, looks delicious! One of the perfect dishes for yugadi..
Thankyou Poornima
Hi jayshree, this looks totally yum!!! I would love to try this.
Thankyou Balvinder
delicious Masala Bhaat recipe J:)
What a quick and delicious rice recipe. It’s too healthy with all the vegetables.
My favorite dish but I never add capsicum in that.. New to me