Tired of searching for a simple recipe on how to cook Punjabi rajma masala? Well then you have landed at a right place. In this article I will show you step by step how you can make them in an easy yet in a simple way.
I am sure you will get a perfect kidney beans in the end after you follow my steps. Click on the below button to jump to the section.
I had prepared masala in advance that helps to save some of the cooking time. If you also want to know how to make masala for Indian curries then do checkout my previous post in which I have explained in detail on how to prepare all purpose masala.
Kidney beans are known as rajma in Hindi. They are staple food for many people in India. They are rich in protein and fibres, are fat free and also contains magnesium and folate making them heart friendly.
About Punjabi Rajma masala
In Punjab they are relished with rice (chawal) giving them the name rajma chawal. For many vegans they are protein rich meal when taken along with rice as they contain very less carbs and zero fat. They are prepared in a mild spicy gravy which gives them the colour and aroma. I will prepare the gravy from the masala that I had made earlier.
This recipe is my favourite and for many of us remains favourite till date. I have grown up eating rajma chawal since my childhood. Whenever they are prepared at our home, I come to know by their aroma that its rajma chawal day today and they are being prepared for lunch. I relish eating them with rice along with the onion rings and green chilies. Some also prefer lemon along with the onions. They can also be enjoyed with chapatti or any other bread.
There are many ways one can prepare them. I will show you how to cook them in traditional Indian way using pressure cooker.
Kidney beans are amongst many famous recipes that are relished by Punjabis. They relish them with onion wedges and rice. You can find street vendors selling them with their own custom-made recipe.
Punjabi rajma is normally prepared in a rich gravy which is mild spicy and is prepared with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and whole Indian spices garnished with butter or cream and fresh coriander leaves.
One can adjust the seasoning in the masala as per their taste by adjusting the spice levels.
To know if the kidney beans are cooked well, you can take one bean, try and mash it by hand or spoon. It should mash easily if cooked else add some more water and cook for a minute.
Types of Rajma
Kidney beans varies in size and colour. In Indian markets one can find various variety of kidney beans that are available in light pink, black and red colour. Light pink rajma is also known as chitra and are medium in size. Chitra is a hindi word when translated to English means drawing. Red kidney beans are small in size.
To prepare this mouth-watering recipe you may choose any variety of kidney beans that is common in your region. The cooking time may increase or decrease depending upon type of kidney beans being used. I soak them for 5-6 hours in the morning which not only makes them soft but also reduces the acid content in them. You can also soak them overnight.
I prefer to use more of chitra rajma as I relish them more. They are light pink in colour and their bean size is medium in size.
Ingredients (serve - 4 pax)
1 cup rajma
1tsp salt
1/4th tsp red chilli powder
1/4th tsp turmeric powder
1/4th tsp Hing/ asafoetida
How to make Punjabi rajma
Since we are preparing them in a traditional Indian way in pressure cooker, I soaked them in morning for 5-6 hours to make them soft and reduce their acidic effects. You can also soak them overnight. In the end you will get delicious Punjabi rajma that will fill your house with nice aroma.
Step by step
Soak them in enough water for 5-6 hours or overnight. Drain the water in which they were soaked.
To make mouth-watering and delicious kidney beans, soak them for 5-6 hours in the morning or soak them overnight in enough water because they swell up and cook properly.
We need to drain the water in which they are soaked and add fresh 3 cups of water.
Add all the ingredients to pressure cooker and cook
Add all the ingredients to pressure cooker and close the lid.
Let the pressure build, after the first whistle comes cook for 30 minutes. Let the pressure release on its own and wait for them to cool down.
Open the lid and check whether they are cooked properly by mashing them with your hand or spoon. They should be soft and tender.
Adding the masala
Add half cup of masala paste in another pan. Put half rajma without the water. Mix and mash slightly for 2-3 minutes.
Now add the rest of them to the pan.
Cook covered for another 5 minutes.
Serve them hot. Punjabi rajma is ready to be served with rice along with onion rings and lemon.
I am enjoying this delicious rajma along with rice. What are you waiting for? grab the tools in the kitchen and start making them now!!!
Video
Method
1). Soak the rajma in the morning for 5-6 hours. You can also soak them overnight.
2). Discard the water in which the they were soaked and add fresh 3 cups of water
3). After five hours the kidney beans have swollen and softened.
4). Put all ingredients in a pressure cooker.
5). After the first whistle reduce the flame to minimum and cook for 30 minutes.
6). Let the cooker cool on its own.
7). Open the cooker. The beans should be soft and well cooked.
8). Take about half cup of the masala paste in a pan. Add only half the rajma without the water. Mix and slightly mash the kidney beans for 2-3 minutes.
9). Now add the entire contents of the cooker.
10). Cover and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve hot.
Conclusion
This recipe of punjabi rajma masala is prepared with homemade all-purpose masala. They are cooked in pressure cooker. After the whistle comes cook for 30 minutes. In the end, I have cooked it with half cup masala in the pan. Open the lid after pressure releases and check if the kidney beans are cooked properly by mashing it with spoon.
Rajma is famous food of North Indian people especially of Punjabis. They are relished with rice.
Cooking time may vary depending upon the rajma and their type.
There are numerous varieties of kidney beans available in the market.
They are fibrous and contain zero fat. Magnesium content in them makes them healthy for heart.
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