Rajma Chawal (Kidney Bean Curry)
June 29th, 2008 filed under Dal (Lentils), Vegan
Rajma chawal (kidney beans with rice) is a great combination. This is a complete meal in itself.
Serves 4.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cup kidney beans (rajma)
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 2 large tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon ginger
- 1 green chili
- 3 tablespoon oil
- Generous pinch of asafetida (hing)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
- 2 tablespoon coriander powder (dhania)
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 medium chopped tomato for garnishing
Method
- Wash and soak the kidney beans in about six cups of water for at least 6 hours (kidney beans will be double in volume after soaking).
- Cut the tomatoes in small pieces, green chili slice lengthwise and take out the seeds (if you prefer mild). Next blend tomatoes, green chili, and ginger and make a paste.
- Heat the oil in pressure cooker. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed. If the seed cracks right away, the oil is ready. Add asafetida and cumin seeds, as the cumin seeds crack add tomato paste, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, black pepper, and paprika.
- Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the oil is separating from the mixture.
- Add kidney beans, salt, and three cups of water close the cooker. Cook on medium high heat.
- As pressure cooker starts steaming turn the heat down to medium and cook for about 12 minutes.
- Close the heat and wait until steam has stopped before opening the pressure cooker.
- Kidney beans should be soft and tender. Lightly mash the kidney beans while mixing. Adjust salt, and pepper to your taste.
- Garnish with chopped tomatoes.

hi aunty,i just finished watching this recipe,looks yummy..am going to prepare it for saturday lunch…:)
Namaste Manjulaji,
Your website and recipes are very good.. I am from South India and I really like to try cooking authentic North Indian dishes.. I have tried the Rajma from your website and it really came out great… Thanks for posting these wonderful recipes !!
-Shilpa
hi manjula aunti .
i married 6 month ago but
i just don’t know how to cook after watching your recipe
i tried and my husband just love it
and now he loves me more and more and more thanxs to you
Manjula
Thnaks for the best website on Indian cooking. You are a great teacher.
Sat sri Akaal
Jatinder
Aunty,
Love ur website a lotttt.. tried out so many recipes and everything turned out great… I have one question.. u have not used onions and garlic in most of the recipes like gravy or subzi.. onions and garlic flavours subzis and gravy s even more isnt it? or its optional? like can i customize the recipes myself, adding onion and garlic but still the recipe would taste like ur preparation?
Thanks
Suba
Its look nice/ I ll try it tomorrow.