Go Back
Kidney beans curry in instant pot, rajma curry in 30 minutes
Print Pin

30 minute Kidney beans curry in Instant Pot

A traditional North Indian curry made with beans, tomato and spices.
Course Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Indian, North Indian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Soak beans 10 hours
Servings 4
Calories

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Kidney beans / Rajma (dried not canned)
  • 2 medium sized Red onion - chopped
  • 2-3 medium sized Tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp or more Tomato paste - canned is fine
  • Thumb size Ginger -chopped
  • 4 Garlic cloves
  • 1 Green chili (cut into two)
  • 1 tsp Ginger garlic paste (store bought)
  • 1/2 small carrot chopped finely
  • 1 tbsp Mustard oil

Whole spices :

  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 1 thumb size Cinnamon stick piece
  • 4-5 Cloves
  • 3-4 pods Cardamom
  • 1/2 aniseed
  • 1 heaped tsp Cumin seeds

Spice powders :

  • 1/2 tsp Red chili powder
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
  • 1/3- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
  • 3 tsps Coriander powder
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Soak the kidney beans over night change the water a couple of times before cooking so most of the toxins get washed away.
  • Blanch the tomatoes by putting it in hot boilng water for few minutes to remove the tomato peel if you like smooth textures. Else simply chop it
  • 1. Heat mustard oil adding bay leaf. When it heats up add cardamom, cloves cinnamon, aniseed give this a minute to heat up then add cumin seeds saute for a minute.
  • 2. Add ginger give it a minute then add the garlic and chopped carrot and green chili and saute until a nice aroma comes. Now add ginger garlic paste, onion chopped when this turns pink add the spice powders saute until it gives a nice aroma.
  • 3. Now add the chopped tomatoes saute until some of the water evaporates add the tomato paste give it a minute.
  • 4.Add the soaked and drained kidney beans. Saute this for 2 minutes. Then add 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water. Stir well. pressure cook for 15 minutes
  • IF USING INSTANT POT - Steps 1 to 4 can be done in SAUTE MODE then switch to MANUAL or Pressure cooker mode and press 20 minutes then natural pressure release after 10 minutes minimum else the beans won't cook properly, I prefer soft beans hence I go for natural pressure release for 30 minutes.

Notes

THE TRICK : is to soak the beans in lot of water, long enough for it to absorb water to its full capacity. This helps to cook the beans fast.
Do not add too much oil or salt as this prevents the beans from cooking properly.