Rajma Recipe

Directions

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   Mis En
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   Place : Finely chop onions, tomatoes. Soak the rajma or kidney beans in enough water overnight or for 8-9 hours. Next day, discard the water and rinse the beans again in fresh water. In a pressure cooker, take both the rajma and 4 cups water. Pressure cook on a medium to high flame for 15 to 20 minutes. When the rajma is cooking, you can chop the onions, tomatoes etc. When the pressure settles down on its own, open the lid, Check if the rajma is cooked or not by taking a bite or pressing a bean. If the rajma are not cooked completely, then pressure cook again adding some water if required for some minutes.
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   Heat oil in another pot or pan.
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   Add cumin first and let them crackle & get browned.Then add onions and saute them till they caramelized or golden browned. Take care not to burn them as this will impart bitter tones in the curry. Light browning the onions is also alright. Keep on stirring the onions while sauteing them, for uniform cooking and also so that they don't get burnt.
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   Add the ginger-garlic-chili paste. Stir and saute for 5-10 seconds on a low flame.
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   Add the tomatoes.
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   Saute for 2 to 3 minutes till the tomatoes become soft.
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   Add
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   all the spice powders one by one - turmeric powder, red chili powder,
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    coriander powder, asafoetida (hing) and garam masala powder. Stir and saute the whole masala mixture till the fat starts leaving the masala. Use a slotted spoon or a strainer and remove the beans and add them to the masala. You can also strain the rajma first and keep it aside. Keep the stock also aside. Stir and saute for a minute. Take 1.5 to 2 cups from the stock and add to the rajma.
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    Add salt and stir the whole curry mixture. Simmer without a lid for 10-12 minutes or more till the curry thickens slightly. It should not be watery. Mash a few rajma beans with the spoon. This helps to thicken the curry. When
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    the rajma masala has thickened and comes to the right consistency which
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    is neither too thick nor thin, then add the kasuri methi. Stir & simmer for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Switch off the fire.
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    Serve rajma masala with steamed basmati rice, jeera rice or naan.