Punjabi Red Beans Recipes

PUNJABI RAJMA MASALA

Steps:

• Wash the rajma under running cold water until the water runs clear. Or rinse them with tap water 2-3 times or until the water is not cloudy anymore.
• Soak in enough water for at least 8 hours or overnight. Discard the soaking water.
• Take soaked beans along with fresh water in the pressure cooker (or instant pot).Pressure cooker: 1 whistle on High heat then reduce to Low and cook for 10 minutes.Instant pot: Manual (high pressure) for 8 minutes.
• NOTE: The cooked rajma should be soft and mashed easily when pressed between finger and thumb. Some of them may open up and those will help in making thick gravy.
• Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add bay leaf and saute for 30 seconds.
• Then add chopped onions and sprinkle some salt to speed up the cooking process. Cook the onions until they are light brown in color.
• Add ginger and garlic paste. Saute for a minute or until the raw smell of ginger-garlic goes away.
• Add tomato puree, mix well and let it cook. Cook until all the moisture evaporates and oil starts to leave the sides of the pan. Do stir in between to make sure that it is not sticking to the pan.
• Add spice powders (Turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and cumin powder, garam masala, amchur). Mix well and cook for a minute.
• Then add Boiled rajma along with its water. To get more thick gravy, mash few rajma with the back of the spoon or spatula.
• Mix well and let it simmer on low for 10-15 minutes. Check the salt and other spices. If gravy is too thick then add some water and bring it to a boil. If gravy to too thin and watery then let it simmer for few more minutes or until you get your desire gravy consistency.

RAJMAH (PUNJABI CURRIED RED KIDNEY BEAN) (SLOW-COOKER)

Steps:

• Safety note: This is not part of the recipe, but it is information that has recently been highlighted in various places. Dry beans, especially dry red kidney beans, contain a toxin called Phytohaemagglutinin, which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Soaking and boiling dry beans helps remove this toxin to make beans safe to eat -- in a slow cooker, the temperature never gets hot enough to heat up dry beans sufficiently [source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration]. They recommend that you first soak them for a minimum of 12 hours, rinse them, and then boil them for 10 minutes. Singla has said that the long cooking here has the same effect, but if you have any concerns, please use these instructions, and expect the beans to finish cooking more quickly. Use less water if you start with soaked beans.
• Put all ingredients except the cilantro and the rice into a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker. Cook on High for 11 hours, until the beans break down and the whole is somewhat creamy. (Several people have mentioned that it seems watery, so you might want to try less water - definitely less water if beans were pre-soaked).
• If you can find them, remove the cloves and the cinnamon stick. If the beans are not as creamy as you want them, stick your immersion blender in there and whir a bit. (Or remove about one cup of the beans and process in blender or food processor). Most of the beans should remain whole.
• Stir in cilantro and serve over rice.
• Optional: Stir in 1 cup yogurt, cover and let sit for 10 minutes, for a tangy twist.
• Use a 3 1/2 quart slow cooker if making half the quantity.

PUNJABI RED BEANS

Steps:

• drain beans and place in large saucepan. add 4 c water and bring to boil. reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook until beans are very soft, about 1 hour.
• meanwhile, heat oil in medium skillet and saute onion until it is well browned. add garlic, ginger, and turmeric and stir for 2-3 minute add tomato puree, coriander, and cumin, and simmer until sauce is thick. stir this sauce into the pot of beans when they are tender, and add the chiles and salt.
• simmer, uncovered, for another 15-20 min to allow flavors to meld. stir in butter if using.
• this dish tastes best the day after it's made. reheat gently over medium heat to serve.

BAKED RAJMA (PUNJABI-STYLE RED BEANS WITH CREAM)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Quarter the onion, then thinly slice one portion. Set aside sliced onion. Add the remaining onion to a food processor, along with the garlic, chile and ginger. Purée until fairly smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• In a large, deep ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium. Add the cumin seeds and cook until lightly toasted, about 30 seconds. Add the onion mixture and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the excess liquid has evaporated and the mixture is just starting to take on a golden color, 8 to 10 minutes.
• While the mixture cooks, purée the canned tomatoes and their juices, if using diced, chopped or whole tomatoes.
• Add the beans and chile powder to the onion mixture, and mix well. Use a fork to mash a tablespoon or so of the beans against the side of the skillet to help thicken the sauce.
• Add the crushed or puréed tomatoes and garam masala to the beans, and mix well. Drizzle the top with cream or scatter with cheese, then slide into the oven and bake, uncovered, until the sauce has thickened and the top is lightly browned, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Prepare the pickle: While the beans are baking, bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Transfer 1/4 cup hot water to a small bowl. Stir in the sugar and salt until dissolved. Add the reserved onion slices to the boiling water in the saucepan, turn off the heat and, after 1 minute, drain the onion. Transfer the softened onion to the small bowl and stir in the vinegar.
• When the beans are ready, fish out the pickled onion slices and arrange on top, letting a few drops of the pickling liquid flick over the beans to season them. Garnish with cilantro and serve with hot rice, buttered toast or flour tortillas.