Rajma masala is an delicious Indian curry made by slow cooking red kidney beans in a rich and flavorful vegetable gravy called curry masala. Tender, melt in your mouth kidney beans give hearty and comforting texture to this sultry Indian Curry.
Similar to Dum Aloo, Aloo Matar , Dal Makhani and Sprouts Curry, you can prepare this Indian curry in electric pressure cooker like Instant Pot. It stores well and can be used for weekly lunch prep as well.
What is Rajma Masala?
Rajma is kidney beans and masala is a generic Indian name for spice mix. So Rajma Masala is Indian Red Kidney Bean Curry.
Red beans are cooked in combination of different Indian spices to make this hearty dinner curry. Typically served with rice, Rajma Chaval is an Indian soul food at it’s best !
Indian curries are full of bold flavors and melt in your mouth velvety creamy texture. This famous Punjabi rajma masala recipe is a staple food especially in Northern India.
Tender kidney beans simmered in luscious onion tomato masala curry. This delicious recipe oozes comfort and satisfaction in every bite.
Restaurant Style Rajma
Rustic color and earthy flavors are key in this popular recipe. Most Indian spice boxes are stocked up with the herbs and spices needed to bring out that aroma.
Kidney Beans Curry spans it’s stardom across all genres. From roadside food stalls called “Dhabas” to five star restaurants, and, from weeknight dinners to lavish parties and wedding dinners, you will find Rajma Curry everywhere.
This hearty curry is loaded with plant protein, complex carbs and fiber. It’s gluten free and dairy free. You can use this curry for weeknight dinners as well as lunch boxes. The flavors develop and it tastes amazing for days. And it freezes well too.
Recipe Inspiration
My childhood friend Sonia is from Jalandhar, Punjab. This heartland of India is famous for all North Indian / Punjabi food like Chole Bhature, Matar Chat, Saag Paneer and Baingan Bharta.
Sonia’s mom makes heavenly food and she loves to feed all her friends that delicious food. This recipe is based on her Mom’s authentic traditional recipe with few tweaks and changes.
Rajma Chawal or Red beans and rice is popular weeknight meal. It’s filling, budget friendly, lip smacking delicious and nutritious. It also is a popular item of lunch buffet menu in Indian restaurants.
Instant Pot Rajma Curry
I love making Rajma Curry in Instant Pot. Traditionally, in India, stove top pressure cooker were used extensively to cook beans and lentils. With electric pressure cooker, making these heirloom dishes have become a breeze.
HOW TO MAKE ONION TOMATO MASALA
Onion tomato masala creates an irresistible flavor base for this curry. This masala is versatile in use. You can simmer any beans and lentils to make delicious curries.
People often call it butter masala if butter is used instead of oil in the preparation. Recipes for Butter chicken, egg curry, lamb and goat curry – all use this spicy curry sauce.
To make onion tomato masala, you sauté chopped onions till they become fragrant. Add ginger garlic paste or minced garlic and ginger. Stir and sauté for about 3 minutes.
Add tomatoes, cumin and coriander powder, turmeric powder and red chili powder to the instant pot. Stir and sauté for 2-3 more minutes.
Remove the mixture from the pot. Let it cool down. Add little water and using the mixer, grind it into smooth puree. Onion tomato masala is ready.
You can make a big batch and freeze this masala. Comes in very handy for quickly whipping up the curries and stews. And it thickens as you cook along.
How to Make Creamy Curry ?
There is no cream or thickener used in this recipe. You won’t miss it either. You can always mesh up some cooked beans for thicker curry sauce.
All the Indian curry fans out there, you must try this recipe. You will LOVE it. If you are new to Indian cooking, I am listing links for all the essential ingredients so you can easily whip up this delicious recipe.
SOAKED / UN-SOAKED / CANNED BEANS
- I prefer to use soaked kidney beans for making Rajma Chawal. Soaked beans cook to the perfection of melt in mouth softness.
- If you are planning to use un-soaked dry beans, raise the cooking time by at least 15 minutes and increase the amount of water by 1 extra cup.
- You can use canned kidney beans if you prefer. Drain the liquid from the can and rinse the beans under cold water. Canned kidney beans can be done in 6-8 minutes of cooking.
- To soak the beans, wash and rinse them under cold water few times. Add 3-4 cups of water per 1 cup of beans. Keep it covered for 4-6 hours or overnight. Discard the soaking water and rinse the beans before using.
- I have noticed that old beans don’t cook well whether it’s chickpeas, kidney beans or others. Please check the packing date and use freshest beans possible.
Ingredients
Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here’s list of what you need. Adding my favorite items with Amazon Affiliate Links
- Kidney Beans
- Tomato Onion Masala
- Other Spices / Herbs and Seasonings : Bay leaves, Cinnamon stick, Turmeric Powder, Red Chili Powder, Garam Masala, Amchur Powder ( dry mango powder) , Kasuri Methi ( dried fenugreek leaves)
- Black Tea Bag – for rustic brown color
- Chopped Cilantro and lemon wedges for garnish
Rajma Curry in Pot in Pot Cooking
Since beans take long amount of pressure cooking, you can easily make white rice or brown rice using PIP (pot in pot method)
Prepare the curry mixture as suggested in the main insert. In a separate stackable container, prepare rice and water. Put the tall trivet in the main insert. And put the rice container over the trivet.
Close the lid. And choose BEAN setting. Rice and rajma cooks at once !!
Instant Pot Rajma Masala Curry
- Prepare onion tomato masala separately
- Sauté the masala in oil along with the spices till oil separates. ( this brings out intense flavors)
- Add in kidney beans and tea bag and water.
- Pressure cook the curry.
- Discard the bay leaf, tea bag and cinnamon stick after it’s cooked.
- Adjust the seasoning, garnish with cilantro and serve.
Our Popular Indian Food Recipes
- Turmeric Lemon Rice
- Kutchi Dabeli
- Mumbai Style Tawa Pulao
- Punjabi Kadhi Pakoda
- Pav Bhaji
- Instant Pot Rice Kheer
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Rajma Masala
Ingredients
- 2 cups soaked red kidney beans rajma
- 2 cups water
- 1 black tea bag for earthy color
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 bay leafs
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon Garam Masala
- 1 teaspoon Amchur Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Kasuri Methi dried fenugreek leaves
- Salt per taste
Onion Tomato Masala
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 medium red tomatoes diced
- 1 inch ginger minced
- 5-6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Cumin -Coriander powder
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- ¼ teaspoon red chili Powder – adjust per spice tolerance
- Salt per taste
For Garnish
- 1 fresh lemon quartered
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves chopped
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE RICE ALONG WITH THE CURRY
- 1 cup washed and rinsed rice
- 1-1.25 cup water
Instructions
INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS :
- TO MAKE ONION TOMATO MASALA :Plug in the instant pot and press SAUTE mode and let it heat until it displays HOT. Add oil and onions. Sauté for few minutes till they get translucent. Sprinkle some salt.
- Add minced ginger and garlic. Stir and sauté for about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, cumin – coriander powder, turmeric and red chili powder to the instant pot. Stir and saute for 2-3 more minutes. Cancel Sauté.
- Remove the mixture from the pot. Let it cool down. Add little water and using the mixer, grind it into smooth puree. Onion tomato masala is ready.
TO MAKE RAJMA CURRY
- Start the InstantPot on SAUTE mode. Add oil. Add bay leaves and cinnamon and saute for 30 seconds. Add onion tomato masala. Add garam masala, red chili powder, amchur powder, turmeric powder. Mix well and let the mixture come to bubbles.
- Add the soaked rajma (KIDNEY BEANS), a tea bag and water to the instant pot. Stir it all up. Cancel SAUTE.
- Place the trivet. In a bowl, add soaked rice and water and place the bowl on top of the trivet. Close the lid with vent in sealing position. Select "BEANS/ CHILLI mode. This will set the timer to 30 minutes at high pressure cooking. Once the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally.
- Using tongs, carefully take out the bowl of rice. Then take out the trivet. Remove and discard the tea bag, bay leaves and cinnamon. Add kasuri methi and lemon juice and stir the curry mixture. Garnish with cilantro. Rajma masala is ready. Serve warm with rice or roti.
STOVE TOP PRESSURE COOKER INSTRUCTIONS
- Follow the same steps as above. Use the kadhai or frying pan to sauté the onion tomato masala. Also do the tadka in kadhai. Transfer the rajma curry mixture to stovetop pressure cooker.
- Cook on high heat for 4 whistles. Let the pressure release naturally. Garnish and serve as mentioned above.
Hema
Thanks Guys, Your Recipe Was Too Fantastic. Me and My Family Loved it. I Will Share your Rrecipe with my friends.