Monday, March 29, 2010

Rajma

We are back after a fortnights break with this simple North Indian curry. Not that we were vacationing, we just got caught up with some personal errands that was long over due.

Red kidney beans gets the name because of its deep red skin and the visual resemblance to the kidney. In our homes, these beans are commonly cooked in a rich tomato based gravy with a hint of all the aromatic spices to finally call it the delicious Rajma.

Prep time (excluding the soaking) : 1hour
Ingredients


Red Kidney beans: 1 cup
Onions (finely chopped): 1/3 cup
Tomatoes (pureed): 2
Tomato ketchup: 2 tablespoons
Ginger-garlic paste: 2 teaspoons
Green chillies (slit): 2-3

Whole garam masala
Cardamom pods: 1-2
Bay leaves: 1
Cinnamon stick: 1
Cloves: 3-4
Star anise: 1

Jeera: 1 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder: 1 teaspoon
Chilli powder: 2 teaspoons
Coriander powder: 2 teaspoons
Garam masala: 1 teaspoon
Chicken masala (optional): 2 teaspoons
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves: to garnish

* You could also use the canned pre-cooked red kidney beans for convenience sake.

Soak the red kidney beans over night. Pressure cook them with little turmeric (1 teaspoon), chilli powder and salt until soft. Heat some oil in another pan. Saute the jeera, cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Add slit green chillies, ginger-garlic paste and the chopped onions. Sprinkle some salt. Let the onions start turning translucent and then add turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala, chicken masala mix well. Pour in the tomato puree and mix nicely until all the masala combines. Add the tomato ketchup. Also add some more water if you need to make it more gravyish. Add the boiled rajma beans and let everything come to a final boil. Give a gentle mash. Put lots of chopped coriander leaves and enjoy hot either with rice or rotis.

38 comments:

  1. The chicken masala touch is an interesting one!
    And very less onions than the traditional one...Looks delicious!

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  2. Goes well with rotis as well as rice!

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  3. 'yummy' is stating it mildly.. i have to admit u two make a great team.. great job!!

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  4. A regular at my place and I make it in a similar way too minus the jeera...

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  5. Njgal vichariche ullu ennale comment kandapol othiri naal ayalo Ningale kanditte enne..Good post dears..Rajma nalla colorful aytund..

    Love
    Kairali sisters

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  6. perfect curry dear.......looks delicious....

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  7. I am not a rajma fan but this looks really delicious!! I would def try it sometime..

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  8. rajma looks so dlicious with the flavour of chicken masala..you have a nice blog .

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  9. Wat a fantastic gravy with rajma, fully packed with proteins..

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  10. Lovely gravy and preparation...i'm not a fan of rajma...but can try the preparation with some other legume...nice click too...

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  11. wow love the colour and looks very delicious and would be perfect with rice or roti...

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  12. All time favorite in my house.Looks delish.

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  13. njan onnu vilichalo ennu vicharikkuvayirunnu :)
    njan next week pokum..athinu munbu vilikkam ;)
    Rajma looks so creamy and yummy !!!

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  14. Soooo creamy and delicious ...Kurachu kittiyal rathriyil chapathikku kootamayirunnu...

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  15. Wow looks yummy !! Even I posted a Rajma recipe yesterday !!!

    http://pedhakka.blogspot.com/2010/03/rajma-masala.html

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  16. Rajma curry looks very creamy and yum! :)

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  17. WOWW..THIS IS AWESOME..COLOR ADIPOLIYAAYITTUNDU.. superb snap.. :)

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  18. kandillallonnu vichaarichathum athaa vannuoru super postumaayittu.. :)

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  19. Rajma looks hearty, perfect and delicious!!! just need some rotis to relish them through the screen :)

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  20. wow! its looking so yummy and colorful!

    Join with us in the event "EFM - Sweets and Savory for Diwali Series!". for more details, click http://www.srishkitchen.com/2010/03/efm-sweets-and-savories-for-diwali.html

    ROUND UP for the event "EFM -Parathas and Gravies Curries series" is in the follwing link http://www.srishkitchen.com/2010/03/efm-parathas-and-gravies-curries-series.html

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  21. I made Rajma in a similar way last week but my Rajma was undercooked :( so it wasnt very tasty.Eni nannayi vevichitu aki nokanam.

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  22. I liked your blog very much. I appreciate for your wonderful presentation with mouth watering pictures.
    You are welcome in my blogs. Now I have become your follower so I will be visiting your blog hereafter..

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  23. lovely rajma...great collection here...will be back to check out more recipes...

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  24. Great looking Rajma...just stopped by to have a look at your blog , totally enjoyed going through it.

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  25. adding chicken masala is a cool idea..Rajma is my fav too :-)
    Good to see you back girls :D

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  26. love the spices that you added to this! this is comfort food for me :D

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  27. Awww.. A wonderful click followed by a lip smacking recipe!! I am just loving it.. Rajma is my fav too, goes too well with Rotis and Naan..

    I was off the blogging for a month due to my German course, and now I am back.. I'll catch up all your posts soon :)

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