rajma recipe with step by step photos – rajma masala or rajma chawal is one of the regulars at any punjabi house.

this easy and quick one pot rajma recipe, that i am posting here is another one of mom in law’s fabulous punjabi recipe. its her special recipe and it is special in one more sense. its a really, really simple and easy rajma recipe. no grinding, no sauteing, no frying of anything…

this is a one pot rajma curry recipe which you can make regularly at home. a rajma masala that you eat at punjabi homes. not spicy, thick or creamy like the rajma masala served in restaurants. this homely recipe is mildly spiced and not heavy as no cream is used. overall a delicious easy rajma curry. if you are looking for restaurant version, then you check this recipe link for making restaurant style rajma masala.

in most punjabi homes the rajma is cooked till they become soft enough to melt in the mouth. whereas in many of the restaurants i have eaten the rajma beans are just cooked.

i suggest to cook the rajma fully so that they become soft and easy to digest. remember, well cooked kidney beans are easy to digest. another important point which i must mention about making rajma recipe is to soak the rajma overnight so that they take less time to cook in the pressure cooker.

i must also mention that the rajma served in jammu kashmir region of india are also very delicious and famous. if you get a chance to go to jammu or to the holy mata vaishno devi shrine or in kashmir, then don’t forget to order rajma chawal there.

punjabi rajma masala is best served with steamed rice. at home we also have rajma masala with chapatis or phulkas. you can also serve rajma masala with bread.

lets start step by step easy rajma recipe:

1. soak 1 cup (200 grams) rajma beans in enough water overnight or for 8 to 9 hours.

2. the next day or after 8 to 9 hours, drain the soaked water.

3. rinse the rajma beans again in fresh clean water.

4. drain them and keep aside.

5. chop the veggies – 1 large onion (1oo gms), 3 medium tomatoes (200 gms), 1 inch ginger, 7 to 8 medium sized garlic and 1 green chili. keep aside.

6. in a pressure cooker add the rajma along with the chopped onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green chilies.

7. now add the spices – 1 tsp cumin seeds, ½ tsp red chili powder, ½ tsp turmeric powder and salt.

8. pour 2.5 cups water (625 ml).

9. stir very well.

10. add 2 tbsp butter or oil.

11. stir again.

12. cover tightly and pressure cook for 18 to 20 whistles on a high flame.

13. once the pressure settles down on its own, open the lid and check the beans. the rajma has to be cooked completely. taste a few beans and they should be melt in the mouth without giving you any bite or resistance while eating. if the beans are still not cooked completely, then add about 1/2 cup more of water and pressure cook again for 5 to 6 whistles or as required.

14. once the rajma are cooked well, then check the gravy or curry also. you will see thin water like stock with the tomatoes and onions floating. so you have to continue to simmer the rajma masala till the curry thickens a bit.

15. keep the cooker on stove top without lid and on a low to medium flame to simmer the gravy.

16. when you keep the curry on the stove top, then add 1 tsp dry mango powder/amchur.

17. add about ¾ to 1 tsp garam masala powder.

18. stir well and simmer the rajma curry till its consistency thickens. mash a few rajma beans with the back of a spoon to thicken the consistency.

19. when the consistency of the curry is no longer broth like or water like and thickened somewhat like the one shown in the pic below. then the rajma masala is ready. if you want you can thicken the gravy more, if having with chapatis or phulkas. lastly check the taste and add more of salt, garam masala, red chili powder or dry mango powder if required.

20. garnishing rajma masala with coriander leaves is optional. serve rajma masala with some steamed rice or with rotis, parathas or bread.

few tips for making rajma masala recipe:

1. make sure that the rajma is soaked well or else it will take a lot of time to cook it.

2. the rajma gravy is not watery but smooth. if you find that the water is too much after the rajma beans are cooked. then cook the rajma without any lid to evaporate the water.

3. if while cooking the water reduces, then add some hot water.

4. the rajma beans have to be soft and well cooked.

5. though i have given the measurements for using water, you may have to check the consistency of the gravy as rajma are different in different places. some rajma beans take a longer time to cook than other varieties. i have faced this issue many times. some times even in spite of cooking the rajma for a good 45 minutes in a pressure cooker, the rajma are not cooked to the fullest. also use rajma beans which are not old. they more aged they are, the longer the take to cook.

6. i have used regular red rajma for the recipe. you could try it with tinned kidney beans. though i have never tried anything with tinned beans and would not know how the recipe would taste. in using regular rajma, the flavors and aroma of the gravy is absorbed by the rajma as we are cooking everything together. not sure if the same would happen for tinned beans.

7. if you do not have a pressure cooker, use big pot to cook the rajma. but it would take a lot of time to cook the rajma in a pot.

you can serve rajma masala with rice, they also equally go well with chappati, roti or bread. but rajma chawal combo is very famous.

punjabi rajma masala recipe below:

punjabi rajma masala - simple and easy one pot punjabi rajma masala or kidney beans curry.

INGREDIENTS (measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml)

• 1 cup rajma/red kidney beans, about 200 gms, soaked overnight in enough water
• 2.5 cups water for pressure cooking
• 1 green chili/hari mirch, chopped
• 1 tbsp chopped garlic/lahsun or ½ inch ginger, chopped
• 1 tbsp chopped ginger/adrak or 7 to 8 medium garlic, chopped
• 3 medium tomatoes, about 200 gms, chopped
• 1 large onion, about 100 gms, chopped
• ½ tsp turmeric powder/haldi
• ½ tsp red chili powder/lal mirch powder
• ¾ to 1 tsp garam masala powder
• 1 tsp dry mango powder/amchur powder
• 1 tsp cumin seeds/jeera
• 2 tbsp butter or oil
• salt as required

INSTRUCTIONS

1. rinse the rajma beans for a couple of times in running water.
2. then soak the rajma beans in enough water overnight or for 8 to 9 hours.
3. the next day or after 8 to 9 hours, drain the soaked water.
4. rinse the rajma beans again in fresh clean water. drain them and keep aside.
5. chop the veggies - onion, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green chilies. keep aside.
6. in a pressure cooker add the rajma along with the chopped onion, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green chilies
7. pour water. stir very well.
8. add butter or oil. stir again.
9. cover tightly and pressure cook for 18 to 20 whistles on a high flame.
10. once the pressure settles down on its own, open the lid and check the beans. the rajma has to be cooked completely. taste a few beans and they should be melt in the mouth without giving you any bite or resistance while eating. if the beans are still not cooked completely, then add about ½ cup more of water and pressure cook again for 5 to 6 whistles.
11. once the rajma are cooked well, then check the gravy or curry also, you will see thin water like stock with the tomatoes and onions floating. so you have to continue to simmer the rajma masala till the curry thickens a bit.
12. keep the cooker on stove top and on a low to medium flame, simmer without lid. stir at intervals.
13. when you keep the curry on the stove top, then add dry mango powder. also add garam masala powder.
14. stir well and simmer the curry till the consistency thickens. mash a few rajma beans with the back of a spoon to thicken the consistency.
15. when the consistency of the curry is no longer broth like or water like and thickened. then the rajma masala is ready. if you want you can thicken the gravy more, if having with chapatis or phulkas.
16. lastly check the taste and add more of salt, garam masala, red chili powder or dry mango powder if required.
17. garnishing rajma masala with coriander leaves is optional. serve rajma masala with some steamed rice or with chapatis, parathas or bread.

Enjoy!