Rajmah Curry

Red Kidney beans curry

Rajmah is red kidney beans. Rajmah beans are found not only already cooked and canned here in the US but also in the dried form in many Indian grocery stores. If you are worried about preservatives and salt content, soak the dried Rajmah beans overnight. They will plump up and be ready to cook. This Punjabi dish is a very common staple in the north of India and is eaten with plain rice. Rajmah chawaal! 

Rajmah curry is a very simple yet flavorful dish. I love making it on a day when I am out of ideas as it is very easy to make in a jiffy. 

Curries are what made Indian cuisine famous all over the world. To most people "curry" is simply a thick creamy yellow sauce. Curries could perhaps be more accurately described as the intricate combination of various spices and seasonings with which meat, poultry, vegetables or fish is prepared in a variety of ways to produce a "stew type" dish. This mildly flavored curry is a great introduction to curries.

2 cans Red Kidney beans

2 large onions, chopped finely

4 large Tomatoes, chopped finely

Quick tip : Canned chopped tomatoes can also be used. : 3/4th cup

2 teaspoons Ginger paste

2 teaspoons Garlic paste

2 Bay leaves

1 Star anise

1 2" long Cinnamon stick

2 to 3 teaspoons Cumin powder

1 teaspoon Garam masala

Salt to taste

1 teaspoon Sugar

2 to 3 tablespoons Oil

3 teaspoons fresh Mint leaves, chopped finely

Quick Tip: 3/4th teaspoon dried mint leaves

1/4th cup Coriander leaves, chopped finely

1. Heat the oil / ghee, add the bay leaves, star anise, cinnamon stick and the ginger and garlic paste.

2. Saute for a few minutes.

3 Add the chopped onions and fry till golden brown. Add the tomatoes and saute till the oil starts to separate.

4. Add the cumin powder, garam masala, salt, sugar and mint leaves. Mix well.

5. Add the 2 cans of Red kidney beans and saute for a few minutes. Add 1/2 cup of hot water and cook for 5 to 8 minutes.

6. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves chopped finely.

Meal Idea: Serve the Rajmah with Parathas and Kachumber. You can make Chole with Garbanzo beans the same way. 

 

	Web www.CuisineCuisine.com