Instant Pot Rajma Masala | Kidney Beans Curry

Beans are a staple food in so many cultures around the world. They’re nutritious, contain protein as well as fiber, they’re widely available, inexpensive and above all- almost every culture has a comfort food version including beans.  In northern India, a popular rustic combination of Beans and Rice is called Rajma Chawal, where Rajma refers to any variety of kidney beans, and, Chawal means rice. This dish, Instant Pot Rajma Masala, is very close to my heart as it represents my Punjabi roots, and has countless childhood memories attached to it.

Easy Recipe for Instant Pot Rajma Masala

I have been making Rajma Masala for decades now. I’ve always made them using my stove-top pressure cooker. My mom makes Rajma in a 2-step process. She boils the Rajma first with salt and turmeric. Then, she prepares a onion-tomato-masala (tempering), and simmers the cooked Rajma in that for a few minutes. I love her recipe, but wanted to simplify it and make it a one-pot meal. So, I tweaked her recipe to get the best of both worlds.

I start by soaking the beans overnight, to rehydrate them. Using my Instant Pot’s ‘Saute’ feature, I prepare a classic Punjabi masala by sautéing onions, ginger and garlic. Crushed tomatoes go in along with garam masala and other warm Indian spices. I add the drained beans with fresh water, and pressure cook them. And, the result is rich, creamy and delicious Rajma Masala!

Use Dried Beans or Canned

There are many varieties of kidney beans, mostly distinguished by color and region, and where they’re grown. My favorite type is dark kidney beans. When I have time to plan ahead, I soak the dry kidney beans the night before. Then, I cook these rinsed and drained beans in a mildly spicy, tomato based curry, seasoned with warm Indian spices. Beans take around 45-50 minutes to cook on the stove-top, so I always pressure cook them in my electrical pressure cooker, Instant Pot, which cuts the cooking time in half.  For weeknights, using canned kidney beans and crushed tomatoes in the same recipe, makes this comfort meal possible in 5-6 minutes of cooking time. In the same amount of time, you can cook white Basmati rice, Brown rice or quinoa to go along with the meal.

Beans & Rice using PIP Method (Pot-inPot)

You can cook this Rajma Masala curry along with rice, using the Pot-in-Pot technique, all in the same pot. The cooking time of dry kidney beans matches that of brown rice, so they can both be cooked in the same pot. Here is the recipe for PIP Rajma Masala & Brown Rice. If you’re using canned Kidney beans, you can pair that with white Basmati rice.

This recipe is very versatile. If you have a favorite way of making Kidney Beans, you can simply use this recipe as a guideline and use your spices!

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Rajma Masala - Kidney Beans Curry

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

In northern India, a popular rustic combination of Beans and Rice is called Rajma Chawal, where Rajma refers to any variety of kidney beans, and Chawal means rice.  This dish, Instant Pot Rajma Masala, is very close to my heart as it represents my Punjabi roots, and has countless childhood memories attached to it.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 128 kcal

Author: Spice Cravings

Ingredients

• 1 cup Red Kidney Beans Dry : Rajma soaked overnight, OR, 1 Can Kidney Beans
• 1 tablespoon Light Olive Oil or Ghee
• 1 teaspoon Cumin Seed
• 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste 1/2 inch ginger + 3 cloves garlic
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 2 green chillies whole or de-seeded (Optional)
• 2 tomatoes pureed, OR, 1 cup Crushed Tomatoes
• 2 teaspoon Garam Masala
• 2 teaspoon Coriander Powder
• 1 teaspoon Roasted Ground Cumin
• 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1.5 cups water
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro for garnish

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Prep: If using dry kidney beans, rinse and soak them overnight. Drain them before use. Chop onions and crush ginger-garlic. You can do that by pulsing them together in a mini food processor. Puree tomatoes if using fresh.

2. Turn the instant pot on SAUTE mode, adjust to more. Wait 30 seconds and add oil/ghee, cumin seeds and green chillies. When the cumin seeds begin to sizzle (a few seconds), add chopped onions and crushed ginger-garlic. Saute for 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes and all spices, saute for 30 seconds. Add drained kidney beans and water and stir.

3. Close lid, Valve set to sealing. Set Manual or Pressure Cook for 25 minutes, NPR (natural Pressure release). Open lid after NPR and garnish the Kidney Beans curry (Rajma) with chopped cilantro.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

If you are new to the Instant Pot, please read my FAQ on Instant Pot Terminology and Accessories to learn more.

 

Note: The nutrition facts below are my estimates.  If you are following any diet plan, I recommend cross-checking with your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition Facts

Rajma Masala - Kidney Beans Curry

Amount Per Serving

Calories 128 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4g 6%

Sodium 669mg 28%

Potassium 394mg 11%

Total Carbohydrates 17g 6%

Dietary Fiber 5g 20%

Sugars 3g

Protein 5g 10%

Vitamin A 11.6%

Vitamin C 16.9%

Calcium 3.7%

Iron 13.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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