Rajma

Recipe for Rajma

Want to surprise your family with the best Rajma recipe? Try this easy Rajma masala ( Rajmah curry) recipe today in instant pot.

Rajma or Rajmah is  also well known as red kidney beans. This famous curry recipe is a staple food especially in Northern India. Rajma is extremely popular and special delicacy of Punjabi Cuisine, it goes along with rice and popularly known as rajma chawal.

Kidney beans are usually eaten well cooked. Raw or improperly cooked kidney beans are toxic, but well-prepared beans can be a healthy. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, including white and red .

 Here is how I cook  my delicious and finger-licking rajma at home. It is like a weekly affair and a Sunday lunch meal at my home. Something special, yet something that doesn’t need  me slogging in the kitchen over hours . Thanks to my instant pot 😊

Over the years, I have made it many times, falling in love with it a little more every time I make. I thought of sharing this recipe on my blog because most of the Indians love eating rajma chawal (rajma rice).

Why do most Indians love rajma chawal? 

Here are the reasons  I think why: 

1.Its a complete dish in itself-You don't need a side dish with rajma-chawal that means you don't have to worry about cooking dals(lentils) or any other vegetables.

2.Its tasty-This is the most important reason. When you have rajma cooked in thick and onion tomato gravy poured over hot steaming rice, its better than a seven course meal at a five star. 

3.Rajma chawal is a comfort food for many who grew up eating this great combination of carbs and protein. On top of that ease of making it in your instant pot is added benefit. Need any more reasons ?

What are the tips for cooking perfect Rajma?

If you decide not to soak the kidney beans, you will need to add more water to the recipe as soaked kidney beans absorb some water. You’ll also need to adjust the cook time as  unsoaked beans take longer time to cook. I haven’t tested this recipe using unsoaked kidney beans (as I always soak my beans and pulses overnight); Soaked beans cook to the perfection of melt in mouth softness.

Health Benefits of kidney beans 

1. Kidney beans are high on fiber. 
2. Kidney beans are among the best sources of plant-based protein.
3. Kidney beans are rich in various vitamins and minerals.

How to make Rajma

Ingredients

• 2 cups -dried kidney beans (rajma) soaked overnight
• 1- onion  roughly chopped
• 3 tbsp oil 
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 1 tsp black pepper powder (kaali mirch)
• 1 bay leaf (tej patta)
• 2 tsp garlic (lehsun)
• 2 tsp ginger (adrak)
• 1 tsp coriander powder (dhaniya powder)
• 1 tsp red chili powder (laal mirch powder)
• 1 tsp garam masala powder
• 1 tsp rajma masala (I use Everest Brand)
• ½ tsp turmeric powder (haldi powder)
• 2 cups fresh tomato puree approx. 
• 2 cups water approximately 
• salt to taste
• Cilantro/corriander leaves (dhaniya) to garnish

Instructions 

1) Soak the kidney beans(rajma) in water overnight. Drain, rinse and set aside.

2) Firstly puree your tomatoes and keep them  aside. Next add the onions, ginger  and garlic to a blender and blend until smooth. You can also finely chop the onions if you want.

3)Press the sauté button. Add the ghee or oil and allow it to heat up for a minute. Add the cumin seeds  and bay leaf and wait for  the cumin seeds  to sizzle.

4) Next add the onion - ginger - garlic  mixture from the blender to the pot and fry for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the onion mixture begins to brown. Be sure not to burn them.

5) Then add in the pureed tomatoes and all the dry spices like  coriander powder, black pepper powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, red chili powder, rajma masala powder (I used Everest brand) and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

6) Next Add the kidney beans, salt and water. Give it nice stir.

7) Secure the lid, close the pressure valve and cook for 30 minutes at high pressure.

8) Naturally release pressure.

9) Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice.

Servings - 4

Total time - 1hour