Rajma Masala\ Kidney Beans Curry

Rajma Chawal is extremely popular in North India. Rajma meaning kidney beans curry and Chawal meaning rice.
Rajwa goes really well with rice. But it can be had with rotis also.

Here is a simple Rajma recipe. Try it out and I am quite sure you will fall in love with it :)

Ingriedients:
Rajma\ Red kidney beans - 2 cups
Onions - 2
Tomatoes - 1
Cashewnuts- around 8
Chilli powder - half teaspoon
Turmeric powder - half teaspoon
Garam Masala\ Chole Masala - half teaspoon
Ginger-Garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
Cloves - 2
Cinnamon - 1 small piece
Fresh Cream - 1tablespoon (Optional)
Chopped coriander leaves
Oil
Salt
Water

Procedure:
1. Soak the Rajma for at least 8 hours and boil it with little salt in the pressure cooker.
2. Next Soak the cashewnuts in 2 tablespoon water for about half an hour.
3. In the meantime, grind the onions to a coarse paste in the mixer. Keep this aside.
4. Next grind the tomatoes to prepare a puree and keep it aside.
5. Finally grind the cashewnuts along with the water.
6. Take a kadhai, add 2 tablespoon oil. Add the cloves and cinnamon
7. Next add the ground onion paste. Add a pinch of salt and fry it for around 5 minutes till the raw taste of onions goes away.
8. Next add the chilli powder, turmeric powder and garam masala\ chole masala.
9. Finally add the tomato puree and fry nicely till it starts leaving oil.
10. Finally add the boiled rajma. Add sufficient salt and mix well.
11. Next add the fresh cream. This is optional.
12. Let it boil for 5 more minutes.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Serve it hot with Rice or Roti.

Tips:
1. Rajma needs to be properly pressure cooked. I usually take 3 whistles on high flame and 1 whistle on low flame.
2. Rajma is available in two varieties, one red colored and the other slighter lighter one. I usually use the lighter one as it gets boiled faster.