Rajma Masala/ Kidney Beans Curry

Rajma Masala/ Kidney Beans Curry

Rajma masala or Kidney Beans Curry is a very famous and favorite dish in almost every North Indian Punjabi household.

This is a combination of kidney beans cooked with aromatic indian spices and served with rice and roti. It’s healthy, nutritious and delicious. Loaded with goodness of proteins.
 
 
 
This is made almost weekly in all the homes. Weekend lunch or dinner is incomplete without this dish.
If you ask like ten people about their favorite dish I bet this dish will be at the top for most of them.
 
 
 
Pair it with rice and some chopped onions, and your meal is all sorted. You don’t need anything else when a blissful bowl of Rajma is there. When the fluffy white rice meets with the aromatic creamy Rajma curry, it’s like a match made in heaven!!
Grab a bowl, fill in some rice, add in the rajma curry, top it up with some chopped onions, mix it and enjoy the leisurely bowl while watching your favorite weekend T.V. Shows.
 
 
 
Preparing Rajma needs some planning. Soaking the dried beans overnight is essential , as it quickens the cooking time. You can cook them in Pressure cooker to bring down the cooking time more. However, nowadays I have seen people making it without soaking overnight. This means that they have to cook it for a longer span of time which in my point of view will destroy all the nutritive values of the dish.

I stick to old method of cooking by pre soaking the beans and pressure cooking them so that the cooking time is less.

If you are in a hurry but still want to try this recipe, you can use canned beans too. Drain the beans, rinse them thoroughly and add in the prepared gravy masala. Cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes and enjoy.


INGREDIENTS:
 
Kidney beans/ Rajma- 1.5 cups
Salt- 2-3 teaspoon
Soda bicarbonate- 1/3rd teaspoon

Ghee- 1 tablespoon
Cumin seeds- 1 teaspoon
Onions- 3, medium, finely chopped
Ginger- 1” piece, julienned
Asafetida- 1/8th teaspoon
Tomato Paste- 2 tablespoons
Garam masala powder- 2 teaspoon
Coriander powder- 2 teaspoon
Red Chili powder- 2 teaspoon
Rajmah Masala powder- 2 teaspoon
(Store bought. I have used MDH Rajmah Masala)

DIRECTIONS:
 
Wash and soak rajma overnight or 7-8 hours.
Drain and presser cook the rajma with about 3-4 cups of water, salt and soda bicarbonate for 10-12 whistle or till fully done, and keep aside till pressure is cooled down.
After opening the cooker check whether beans are done or not. They should be tender but still hold the shape. Press a bean with your finger if it’s easy to mash it that means beans are cooked properly.
Do not throw the beans stock/water. You can use it in the gravy.
 
 
 
 
Heat the ghee in a pan.
Add cumin seeds, asafoetida/hing, chopped onion and sauté it till caramelized or golden brown.
Add ginger Juliennes and sauté.
Next add tomato puree in the prepared mixture.
Add red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, rajma masala powder and mix well, sauté it for 4-5 minutes or till mixture leaves the fat.
Add cooked rajma, and mix it well, bring it to the boil and cook till the gravy is thickened enough.
Check the consistency, if it looks very dry you can add some more water.
You can mash some cooked rajma with spatula, it will make your gravy thicker and tasty.
Rajma Masala is ready.
 
 
 
 
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves, and serve with steamed rice, jeera rice, roti or naan along with chopped onion and lemon wedges.
Enjoy!! 
 

 
This recipe is my contribution to the FB group Healthy Wellthy Cuisines 
And the theme is 'Recipes with Legumes'.
Do check some more healthy shares by my fellow blogger friends- 
Moong Dal Khichdi by Kalyani
Boondi Kadhi by Rosy
Habisha Dalma by Sasmita
 
 

Recipe Card



Rajma Masala/ Kidney Beans Curry
 
Rajma masala or Kidney Beans Curry is a very famous and favorite dish in almost every North Indian Punjabi household. 
This is a combination of kidney beans cooked with aromatic indian spices and served with rice and roti. It’s healthy, nutritious and delicious. Loaded with goodness of proteins.
 
Preparation Time: 7-8 hours (includes the soaking time)
Cooking Time: 30-35 minutes 
Serves: 4
 
INGREDIENTS:
 
Kidney beans/ Rajma- 1.5 cups
Salt- 2-3 teaspoon 
Soda bicarbonate- 1/3rd teaspoon

Ghee- 1 tablespoon 
Cumin seeds- 1 teaspoon 
Onions- 3, medium, finely chopped 
Ginger- 1” piece, julienned 
Asafetida- 1/8th teaspoon
Tomato Paste- 2 tablespoons 
Garam masala powder- 2 teaspoon
Coriander powder- 2 teaspoon
Red Chili powder- 2 teaspoon
Rajmah Masala powder- 2 teaspoon
(Store bought. I have used MDH Rajmah Masala)

DIRECTIONS:
 
Wash and soak rajma overnight or 7-8 hours.
Drain and presser cook the rajma with about 3-4 cups of water, salt and soda bicarbonate for 10-12 whistle or till fully done, and keep aside till pressure is cooled down.
After opening the cooker check whether beans are done or not. They should be tender but still hold the shape. Press a bean with your finger if it’s easy to mash it that means beans are cooked properly.
Do not throw the beans stock/water. You can use it in the gravy.
Heat the ghee in a pan. 
Add cumin seeds, asafoetida/hing, chopped onion and sauté it till caramelized or golden brown.
Add ginger Juliennes and sauté.
Next add tomato puree in the prepared mixture.
Add red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, rajma masala powder and mix well, sauté it for 4-5 minutes or till mixture leaves the fat.
Add cooked rajma, and mix it well, bring it to the boil and cook till the gravy is thickened enough. 
Check the consistency, if it looks very dry you can add some more water.
You can mash some cooked rajma with spatula, it will make your gravy thicker and tasty.
Rajma Masala is ready.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves, and serve with steamed rice, jeera rice, roti or naan along with chopped onion and lemon wedges.
Enjoy!! 
 

 
 

10 Comments

  1. 18236 Jayashree

    This is one of the favourite dish at home. Yours looks so inviting dear Shalu.

  2. 18230 Sasmita

    Oh wow !! look at the color of the dish   just drooling here ... need a bowl of steam rice and this !! much much comforting combo

  3. 18228 Swati

    My family loves Rajma Masala and every alternate weekend Your Rajma Chawal platter is looking so tempting and color is so beautiful!!

  4. 18227 Kalyani

    that's a lovely recipe, Shalu ! personally I don't cook Rajma masala much but enjoy the ocassional treat at my friend's place

  5. 18226 Poonam Bachhav
    Poonam Bachhav

    Now I am craving for some piping hot Rajma masala with rice. I love the gorgeous color of your curry and the platter looks very inviting !

  6. 18224 Geetanjali Tung
    Geetanjali Tung

    What a lovely color of the Rajma! Looks so tempting... Feel like Want to grab some from the screen itself. Superb share for the theme!

  7. 18223 seema sriram

    Fantastic an authentic recipe Shalu. Loving the creation and drooling with a bowl of rice...share some please

  8. 18222 The Girl Next Door
    The Girl Next Door

    Oh, wow! The Rajma Masala looks divine! This is one of my most favourite dishes ever. I make it the same way, too. :)

  9. 18221 The Girl Next Door
    The Girl Next Door

    Oh, wow! The Rajma Masala looks divine! This is one of my most favourite dishes ever. I make it the same way, too. :)

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