Veggie Foodie

Rajma Masala

Ingredients:

• Rajma (kidney beans), 1 1/2 cups (preferably Rajma Chitra)

For onion paste

• 3 medium onions, sliced
• Peanut oil (or any vegetable oil), 2 tbsp
• Water, a few tbsp

For cooking

• Peanut oil (or any vegetable oil), 2 tbsp

Whole spices

• Cumin seeds, 1 tsp
• Bay leaf, 2 to 3
• Cinnamon, 1 inch
• Black Cardamom, 1 to 2

other ingredients

• Ginger garlic chili paste, 3 tbsp
• Turmeric powder, ½ tsp
• Tomato puree, of 4 medium tomatoes
• Salt, 1 tsp or to taste

Powdered spices

• Kashmiri red chili powder, 1 tbsp
• Coriander powder, 2 tbsp
• Cumin powder, 1 tsp
• Garam masala, 1 tsp

For final touch

• Kasuri methi – crushed, 1 tbsp
• Garam masala, 1/2  tsp
• Fresh coriander leaves – chopped, 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Wash and soak the rajma for 6-8 hours
2. Drain the rajma, add fresh 2 cups water and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles. If you are using Instant Pot, cook under pressure for 25 minutes
3. Once the cooker is depressurized naturally, take out the rajma and put aside
4. To make onion paste, heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan on medium heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté them for 10-15 minutes, stirring regularly
5. Turn off the heat and let the onions cool
6. Grind the sautéed onions to fine paste by adding a tbsp water if necessary
7. Add 2 tbsp oil to the pan that was used for sautéing the onions and put it on medium heat
8. Once the oil is hot, add all the whole spices and sauté for a couple of minutes
9. Add the ginger garlic chili paste and cook on medium flame for a couple of minutes
10. Add turmeric powder, mix and cook for a few seconds
11. Add the tomato puree, 1 tsp salt and all the powdered spices. Mix in the spices into the puree and then add the onion paste. Mix well and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring regularly, until the oil  separates
12. Once the oil separates, add the cooked rajma along with the water they were cooked in,  mix well  and bring it to a boil
13. Cover and cook on slow-medium heat for 10-15 minutes till the gravy thickens
14. To make the rajma masala creamer, mash them a bit and cook for a couple of minutes
15. Adjust salt to your liking and add kasuri methi, garam masala, fresh coriander and mix everything well
16. Enjoy the masala rajma with any Indian bread or rice!

Serves: 4

Inspiration source:

Remarks:

Pretty good!