How to make Rajma? (Indian red kidney beans curry)

Learn how to make authentic Indian (punjabi style) rajma masala or red kidney beans curry with simple spices in a thick onion tomato gravy.

I did it! I finally made Rajma on my own - for the first time in my life. Read here to see how I brag about this project. It truly is a project by the way, as the process of making authentic Indian, punjabi style Rajma Chawal (Rajma Rice) starts one night before you actually want to make it.

The Rajma Chawal project starts a day in advance when you want to eat them, that is because in an authentic Indian punjabi kitchen, like mine, Rajma aka the best ever Indian comfort food is best cooked when soaked for 10+ hours overnight. It is obviously easier if you are using canned red kidney beans, but I am sharing the authentic, real Indian way to make rajma masala curry at home, which I learned from my mom. [for canned beans, skip to recipe card at the bottom of the page for alternate recipe 🙂 ]

Lets learn how to make Punjabi Rajma (red kidney beans curry) at home

• you start by soaking rajma overnight in a bowl.
• the next morning, you transfer the rajma to an Indian pressure cooker and cook until they are soft. (so happy that I finally learned how to cook/boil rajma in an Indian pressure cooker!)

• then you add the bhuna masala which is the homemade Indian curry paste - I did an entire blog post with step by step recipe. click here or on the image below for the full recipe for the basic Indian curry paste that is used for this punjabi style Rajma masala curry. This masala is made using very basic Indian spices including turmeric powder.

• add the bhuna masala (Indian curry paste) to the cooked rajma 

• mix and cook until the masala is fully mixed with the rajma and a brown gravy is formed.

• serve with rice or coconut lemon rice & authentic Indian green chutney - look you did it! you made rajma rice 😉

More Indian recipes to check out from the blog:

• tadka rice
• authentic north Indian malai kofta
• bread poha
• vada pav
• beetroot kebab
• hara bhara kebab (spinach and pea kebabs)
• makki ke kebab (corn kebabs)
• coriander chutney
• lemon coconut rice
• south Indian style tomato chutney

Possible questions/ variations?

• Can we use canned beans? yes, it is not traditional, but you can use canned red kidney beans to make rajma masala - no need to soak or pressure cook/ boil as they are already soft - rest recipe remains the same.
• Can rajma masala be made vegan? rajma masala is naturally vegetarian Indian recipe & yes, it can be made vegan - just replace ghee with oil in the bhuna masala recipe and your rajma masala is now vegan!

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