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    Home » Beans and Lentils

    Rajma Masala - Instant Pot & Stovetop Recipe

    Published: Apr 18, 2022 · Modified: May 17, 2022 by Archana · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 18 Comments

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    Rajma Masala is what I call my “rainy day curry” because I always have the ingredients in my pantry and don’t need a plan to pull together a super healthy and tasty meal. This vegetarian comfort food turns a few simple ingredients into a richly spiced bean curry with delicious tomato gravy that just begs to be sopped up with rice and parathas. 

    Jump to:
    • Plant-Based Protein
    • Fueled and Full
    • Ingredient Spotlight
    • To Soak or Not to Soak
    • Step by step instructions
    • Serving
    • Storing
    • Substitutes
    • FAQ's
    • More Recipes
    • Recipe

    Plant-Based Protein

    Red Kidney Bean Curry with Brown Rice is full of healthy plant-based protein and the simple pot-in-pot method makes this recipe a true one-pot wonder. Beans and rice is a classic combination for good reason. When eaten together, beans and rice provide the essential amino acids to form a complete protein. Rajma Chawal (red kidney beans curry with rice) is a perfect example!

    Fueled and Full

    Punjabi Rajma has been a lifesaver for me lately! My son who sticks to a vegetarian and pescatarian diet has some very long days between school and sports obligations. I love knowing I can have this veggie curry ready for him after a long day and make sure he has enough protein to refuel. My boys are also very adept at cooking for themselves in the Instant Pot and this one is a super easy go-to!

    Ingredient Spotlight

    Red Kidney Beans

    This awesome source of plant-based protein also boasts dietary fiber which is super important for digestive and heart health. Their low glycemic index means these complex carbs take longer to digest and prevent blood sugar spikes. Red Kidney beans have important vitamins such as Folate, B6, and K, and minerals including, Potassium, Magnesium, and Iron.

    Garam Masala

    Instead of using whole spices, make a batch of aromatic garam masala and have it on hand for all of your recipes. Try Mom's Garam Masala, our special family recipe or my Easy 5-Ingredient Garam Masala with warm aromatics that’s ready in only 10 minutes! You’ll need black peppercorns, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and cumin.

    To Soak or Not to Soak

    This recipe calls for soaking dry red kidney beans which not only cut the cooking time in half but also helps them cook evenly. No time to soak beans? No Problem! See below for all my tips on doing an instant soak or skipping the soak and extending the cooking time. We used dried beans to avoid the extra salt in canned beans and achieve that perfect soft creamy texture inside the beans that comes from proper cooking.

    Step by step instructions

    Here is a step-by-step process with photos on how to cook Rajma curry in the Instant Pot. In the recipe card notes, I have also included a stovetop version

    • Set Instant Pot to Saute mode and heat ghee. Add cumin seeds and allow them to sizzle, for about 1 minute. Press the Cancel button to turn off the Instant Pot.
    • Add onion, ginger, garlic, green chili, onions, tomato puree, kidney beans, salt, coriander powder, turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, and water. Give a quick stir.
    • To make the optional pot in pot brown rice: Add brown rice, water, and salt in a stainless steel bowl. Place a tall trivet inside the Instant Pot. Place the rice bowl on top of the trivet.
    • Close the Instant Pot lid with Steam Release to Sealing. Set Instant Pot to Bean/Chili mode and adjust the cooking time to 30 minutes. Allow natural pressure release.
    • Open the Instant pot, take out the rice bowl, and trivet.

    Serving

    Garnish the rajma with cilantro. Serve hot with brown rice for a delicious gluten-free vegetarian meal. Or serve it with homemade parathas, naan alongside a crunchy salad.

    Storing

    Rajma is a great make-ahead recipe. If making it for a party, you can easily make it a day before and refrigerate it overnight. Reheat it on the stovetop until it comes to a boil and is heated through. Leftover Rajma curry can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. You can also freeze rajma in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months.

    Substitutes

    1. A good brand of store-bought tomato puree like Pomi strained tomatoes, is convenient, a time-saver, and adds a beautiful red hue to the curry. You can also roughly chop 2 ripe tomatoes and puree them in a blender.
    2. Don't have time to soak Rajma? Rinse and drain dry rajma. Follow the recipe as is except add an extra half a cup of water and pressure cook for 50 minutes followed by natural pressure release.
    3. Want to use canned kidney beans? Saute the onions and cumin seeds in ghee for 5 minutes or until the onions get translucent. Then add the remaining ingredients, reduce the water to half a cup and add only one teaspoon of kosher salt. Pressure cook for 5 minutes followed by natural pressure release. Instead of brown rice, you will be able to cook white rice with the shortened pressure cooking time.
    4. To make Vegan Rajma, use oil instead of ghee.

    FAQ's

    How to Instantly soak Rajma Beans

    No time to soak the beans for 4 to 6 hours? Here is another trick to instantly soak them. Bring 3 cups of water to a gentle boil. Add rinsed beans and keep covered for 30 minutes. 

    Why is my Rajma not cooking soft? 

    1. Hard water can make softening the beans more difficult so make sure to use bottled water to cook rajma. 
    2. Organic beans or older/poor quality beans may need an extra 5 to 10 minutes of pressure cook time. Make sure to buy smaller quantities of beans and use them within a year of purchase. 

    More Recipes

    Did you enjoy this quick and easy curry? Here are some more lentil and bean recipes to try:

    • Lobia curry - Curried black-eyed peas
    • Matki chi Usal - Spicy sprouted beans curry
    • Dal Makhani - Creamy black gram and kidney beans curry
    • Palak Dal - Lentils with spinach

    Recipe

    Tried this recipe? We love your feedback.Please click on the stars in the recipe card below
    Rajma curry served with brown rice and pickled onions
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    4.67 from 12 votes

    Rajma Curry with Brown Rice

    Richly spiced red kidney beans curry in a flavorpacked tomato based gravy
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time50 mins
    Soaking6 hrs
    Total Time7 hrs
    Course: dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 385kcal
    Author: Archana Mundhe

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
    • Tall Trivet
    • Stainless steel pot

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup dry rajma/red kidney beans soaked for 6 hours or overnight **
    • 1 tablespoon ghee or oil for Vegan
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 1 yellow onion diced finely
    • 1 teaspoon ginger paste grated
    • 1 teaspoon garlic paste minced
    • 1 teaspoon hot green chili minced
    • 1 cup tomato puree
    • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
    • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon garam masala
    • 1½ cups water
    • ½ cup chopped cilantro for garnish

    Pot in Pot Brown Rice (optional)

    • 1 cup brown rice rinsed and drained
    • 1¼ cup water
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

    Instructions

    • Rinse and soak dry Rajma for 6 hours or overnight in a covered container.
    • Set Instant Pot to Saute mode and heat ghee. Add cumin seeds and allow them to sizzle, for about 1 minute. Press the Cancel button to turn off the Instant Pot.
    • Add onion, ginger, garlic, green chili, onions, tomato puree, kidney beans, salt, coriander powder, turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, and water. Give a quick stir.
    • Optional Pot in pot brown rice: Add rice, water, and salt in a stainless steel bowl. Place a tall trivet inside the Instant Pot. Place the rice bowl on top of the trivet.
    • Close the Instant Pot lid with Steam Release to Sealing. Set Instant Pot to Bean/Chili mode and adjust the cooking time to 30 minutes. Allow natural pressure release.
    • Open the Instant pot, take out the rice bowl, and trivet.
    • Garnish the rajma with cilantro. Serve hot with rice or parathas.

    Video

    Notes

    • Organic beans or older/poor quality beans may need an extra 5 to 10 minutes of pressure cook time
    • Use filtered water for soft-cooked kidney beans 
    • You can substitute store-bought tomato puree with homemade by roughly chopping 2 ripe tomatoes and pureeing them in a blender
    • Forgot to soak the beans? Add an extra half a cup of water and increase the pressure cook time to 50 minutes followed by natural pressure release
    • No time to soak the beans for 4 to 6 hours? To instantly soak rajma, bring 3 cups of water to a gentle boil. Add rinsed beans and keep covered for 30 minutes. 
    • Want to use canned kidney beans? Saute the onions and cumin seeds in ghee for 5 minutes or until the onions get translucent. Then add the remaining ingredients, reduce the water to half a cup and add only one teaspoon of kosher salt. Pressure cook for 5 minutes followed by natural pressure release. You can cook pot-in-pot white rice with the shortened pressure cooking time
    • To make Vegan Rajma, use oil instead of ghee.
    • Stove Top Recipe - Rajma masala can also be cooked in a stovetop pressure cooker. Follow the recipe up to step 3. Then pressure cook for 4 whistles on medium heat. Garnish with cilantro. 
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 1775mg | Potassium: 886mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 454IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @ministry_of_curry or tag #ministryofcurry

    Author: Archana

    Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live in New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Maneesha says

      April 24, 2022 at 11:09 am

      Simply delicious! Love it, Archana! I added some lemon juice at the end and paired it with basmati rice. I love your Instant pot Indian recipes!5 stars

      Reply
      • Archana says

        April 24, 2022 at 8:44 pm

        Thank you so much for the lovely feedback!

        Reply
    2. Helaine says

      May 16, 2022 at 5:45 pm

      Hi,
      I've made many of your recipes so I thought I'd try this one tonight. I noticed that it called for red chili powder but
      it's not listed in the ingredients so I was sure how much to put in. Also, I probably should know this, but where do
      I find hot green chili?

      Reply
      • Archana says

        May 17, 2022 at 8:48 am

        Hi Helaine, you are right. I had missed adding the red chili powder to the ingredient list. It should be 1 teaspoon of mild red chili powder. I have updated the recipe card. Hot green chilies are available in Indian grocery stores. You can also substitute with serrano or jalapenos.

        Reply
    3. Jack says

      May 17, 2022 at 6:17 pm

      I found myself on my own cooking for dinner for one- and decided to try this recipe. I've never used an instapot, but the directions looked simple enough, so I followed it step by step. I grew up vegetarian and then married into a meat and potatoes family, so this was a safe bet for me to try on my own. I used a jalapeno pepper. I love the simplicity, the spices are perfect, and the brown rice adds such a nice wholesome flavor offset to the spicy bean curry. I used 1/4t of cayanne pepper where the red chile powder is called for in step 3 because red chile powder was not in the ingredients list and I found the cayanne powder first in my cabinet when I got to that step. Just enough heat and bursting with flavor. So perhaps I'll pair it with scrambled eggs for breakfast and put it over a baked potato for dinner tomorrow so that none of it goes to waste. Terriffic!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Archana says

        May 18, 2022 at 9:48 pm

        Thank you SO much for your detailed review.

        Reply
    4. Neil Carlson says

      August 12, 2022 at 1:19 am

      Delicious! I used canned beans and followed the instructions for that option. The liquid amount seemed too little, though. Was I supposed to drain the beans or not? I'll try dry beans next time.5 stars

      Reply
      • Archana says

        August 14, 2022 at 11:21 pm

        I would drain out the beans when using canned. I am so glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    5. Amy says

      August 19, 2022 at 2:23 pm

      If using canned kidney beans, what weight should be used? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Archana says

        August 25, 2022 at 4:13 pm

        2 cans which are 30 oz. Make sure to pressure cook for only 5 mins. Also rinse and drain the beans.

        Reply
    6. Mark H says

      September 19, 2022 at 5:03 pm

      Wouldn’t it b pe better to sauté the onions first (even if using dry beans)?

      Reply
      • Archana says

        September 19, 2022 at 8:05 pm

        You can saute if you like! But the longer pressure cooking time makes that step completely optional. I have tried both ways and there is no difference in taste and texture.

        Reply
    7. rita says

      December 04, 2022 at 12:10 am

      good recipe. I don't have an instant pot, but used my pressure cooker. translated well, came out tasty4 stars

      Reply
      • Archana says

        December 06, 2022 at 5:10 pm

        Thank you Rita!

        Reply
    8. Shaina Bhumitra says

      February 17, 2023 at 7:46 pm

      Hi archana you are a life saver. You taught me how to cook! Normally you’re recipes show how much time to let natural release before opening but it does not say it here. How long do I leave it for?

      Reply
      • Archana says

        February 19, 2023 at 5:07 am

        Hi Shaina, You can allow 10 to 15 minutes of natural pressure release for this recipe.

        Reply
    9. Lisa says

      February 20, 2023 at 1:40 pm

      Awesome and adaptable! I added a lot more spice, because we like a huge kick, and stirred some chopped baby spinach in at the end for a little extra nutrition.
      I even used extra long white basmati, and just did a forced release after 5.minutes, and it turned out amazing! Love that pot in pot method!5 stars

      Reply
      • Archana says

        February 20, 2023 at 10:46 pm

        Amazing! Love the idea of adding chopped baby spinach. I often do that in my dal and bean recipes.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Archana: a former software engineer, now a full-time blogger. I am a mother of two boys who share my love for food and cooking. Words I love to hear are, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” The same words I say to my mom every time we speak. I live in the greater New York City Area with my husband and sons.

    Learn More About Me!

    Archana's Essential Indian Instant Pot Cookbook

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