Rajma Chawal

Rajma Chawal (Red Kidney beans curry with Rice) is an awesome combination.Its a must-in-a-menu in every Punjabi feasts.The prefix 'Raj' in this name rajma is itself giving a kind of royalty to this dish..Long ago,I was served a biryani called 'Raja Biryani' in a restaurant called 'Rangoli' (Saravana Bhavans).Before seeing the biryani,I was thinking with what this biryani would have been made.I was wondering whether it contains various exotic nuts and dried fruits?!I was so curious until the biryani arrived.To my surprise it was actually made with Rajma(Kidney beans) and basmati rice.I guess Rajma is the 'King of beans' and hence it got the name 'Raj'ma.

Whatever the name be..it really tastes so good that we don't have to worry about its baptism.

This rajma is very tricky you know..It takes lot of time to cook well.I pressure cooked it 2 times with 4 whistles each time...

Sometimes the bean gets well cooked in just 3 whistles.It all depends on the quality of beans you get.Its best if you could get the canned red kidney beans.They don't need the soaking process and can be used on the go!

But me in the middle of an old town can't reach for canned beans :(

Eventhough I managed to make a really tasty ,rajma curry :)

This curry is so easy to prepare and calls for the usual onion,tomato, and ginger as its base.

You will need:

1 cup of Red kidney beans (Soaked overnight,pressure cooked without salt)

1 big onion ,finely chopped

3 tomatoes,pureed

1 green chilly,chopped

1 inch ginger,finely chopped

1 tsp red chilly powder

1/2 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp cumin powder

1/2 tsp garam masala

A pinch of Aji-ni-moto

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 inch cinnamon stick

1/4 tsp of sugar

Salt as per taste

oil

Coriander leaves for garnish

Start by chopping the onions,ginger and green chilly.

In a heavy bottom frying pan,heat 1 tbsp of oil.Add the cumin seeds and cinnamon.

Add chopped onions,ginger and chilly.Fry for a couple of mins

Add the pureed tomato and all the spices except garam masala.Fry till the oil seperates.

Add the cooked beans.Add the salt,sugar ,aji-no-moto and garam masala.Mix well.Add 1/4 cup of water(water used for boiling rajma can be retained and used).

Cook covered for 4-5 mins.

Garnish with chopped coriander and serve with boiled plain rice.

Rajma curry with boiled rice served with fryams.

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