Rajma Curry with Butter Naan and Rice Pudding with Saffron:

Rajma has been a favourite for as long as I can remember. Mom made it often and even when we went out to eat, my brother and I made sure we had Rajma. We had Rajma curry with Jeera Rice or Butter Naans, it was a treat always. I make it very often here too, whenever I crave for Rajma that is! :)


You will need:

1 ½ cups Rajma (Red Kidney Beans)
2 cups Tomato Puree
6 Green chillies (grind to a fine paste)
2-3 onions finely chopped
¼ tsp Garam masala
1 tbsp Corriander powder
½ tbsp Cumin powder
¼ tsp Turmeric powder
1 tbsp Ginger garlic paste
Chopped Corriander for garnish
2-3 tbsp oil














Soak rajma overnight. Prepare tomato puree and keep aside. Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add chopped onions and fry till soft. Add Ginger Garlic paste and then green chilli paste. Fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the Cumin powder, Corriander powder and turmeric powder. Add the tomato puree and fry for atleast 20-25 minutes on a low flame. (I know this sounds like a long time, but the longer you fry the richer the flavours) Once everything is fried well, add the chopped tomatoes and soaked, drained rajma, cover with water, add salt, give it a quick stir and close the cooker lid with weight. Increase the heat to high and on 1 whistle reduce the flame to low and cook for 40 minutes.

After its done if gravy is too thick add more water if required and bring to a boil. Garnish with chopped coriander. Serve with Butter Naan.

Cooking this way brings a dark rich colour to the gravy. I used to boil the Rajma separately and then add it to the masala, gravy tasted good no doubt but sometimes the rajma tasted bland as the flavours wouldn’t have been absorbed enough. When we pressure cook the Rajma along with the masalas, it makes a huge difference in colour, taste and texture of the gravy as well as the Rajma. A Punjabi friend taught me to cook this way and since then I’ve stuck to it!



Butter Naans


You will need:


1 ¾ cups All Purpose Flour (Maida)

¼ cup Rice Flour

¾ tsp Cooking soda

2-3 tbsps Oil

Buttermilk as required (yoghurt and water)

½ tsp Salt

1 tbsp Sesame seeds (lightly toasted)



Sieve the flours with the soda. Add the oil, salt and make a soft dough using buttermilk. Dough should be soft only and not sticky. Keep aside and let dough sit for atleast 4 hours. Knead dough, make equal sized balls and roll into tear shaped or round naans. Heat a pan and roast naan on both sides. Flip only when one side is fully done. You will know when small bubbles begin to rise.




When both sides are done remove from heat and apply butter. Top with toasted sesame seeds. Serve with Rajma curry.




Akaalivarase


Akaalivarase is nothing but Rice pudding. Basmati Rice slow cooked in Milk, makes a creamy dessert.


You will need:


1/2 cup Basmati Rice

2 Cups Whole Milk

¼ cup Sugar (use more if required)

1/2 tsp Saffron strands

Slivered Almonds or Pistachios for garnish













Bring milk to a boil. Add the washed and strained Basmati rice. Stir on low flame till rice is cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. Then stir in the sugar and saffron strands. Let cool, refrigerate and serve chilled. Top with nuts before serving.




Akaalivarase is my entry to Sunita's "Think Spice..Think Saffron" event this month. Saffron imparts a beautiful yellow to this dish and also adds abundant flavour.



Thanks Sunita, your announcement coincided with my making this dish :)



26 comments:

  1. Hey, thanks for that tip to pressure cook rajma along with the masala's.
    Akki Payasa ( as we call it at my place) looks creamy n delicious. Nice picture. :)

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  2. All the recipes look nice...thanks for sending over that lovely pudding...I have a really sweet tooth ;)

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  3. wow..that was a real quick posting for saffron namrath!! good going :) i love rajma and jeera rice too..and i always make the same combo..urs looks great

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  4. NOOOO!!!! I made the same thing for Saffron!!:D
    LOVE the Naan and Rajma.YUM!!

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  5. Butter Naan and Rajma is a lovely combo Namratha...Pudding with saffron looks tempting..

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  6. I love rajma.
    And you are fast with your entry for saffron. Both look great

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  7. rajma is my fav and to top it.. it was with annad payasa as we call it at home :) I just love that!!

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  8. The saffron rice pudding looks and sounds great! I am such a saffron fiend ;)

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  9. Thanks Grihini, glad to have you over:)

    Thanks Sunita:)

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  10. Thanks Rajitha..coincidentally Sunita announced her spice yesterday, I had already made the pudding..hehe!:)

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  11. Ohh Asha, I beat you to it this time...looking forward to your version :-D

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  12. Thanks Apple, nice of you to stop by :)

    Thanks Happy, as I said...coincidence!:)

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  13. Thanks Suman, glad you like it!:)

    Thanks Dhana:)

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  14. Rajma looks delicious namrata! :)) came to know that saffron is the spice this month from you! Thanks!
    Your rice is looking yummy!:))

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  15. what for the special occasion for such a delicious feast. oh I can have rajma with anything:)

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  16. That looks fab. Rajma brings back memories of my hostel days.This was served along with kadhi every Wed. I used to wait impatiently for this!

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  17. Yum...three awesome dishes! I love rajma too and have tried countless recipes...can't wait to try yours :)

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  18. looks yum loved all the recipes

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  19. Rajma is always delicious. Saffron pudding looks great!

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  20. Thanks Latha :) You would have known about the spice eventually too!

    No special occasion Sharmi dear, as I always any time is a good time to eat!:D

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  21. Thanks TBC, Rajma and Kichdi is a great combo too!

    Thanks Meeso, do try mine, I'm sure you will love it!

    Thanks Roopa and Jyothsna! :)

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  22. I love Rajma. It is such a wonderful dish!

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  23. Akkaravadisal-how we caal your akaalivarase is really a finger licking recipe...Super naan and raajma dishes too you have..Thanx for the recipe.!!

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  24. Thanks Kumudha:) Glad you could stop by:)

    Hey Raks,that's the word I was looking for. I learned this from an aunt whose relatives are in Tamil Nadu, couldn't remember the Tamil name though! Akaalivarase is in Kannada. Thanks for stopping by:)

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  25. Hi Can you tell how much water do you use while cooking masala and Rajma in pressure cooker?

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  26. cvnxvnreq, For 1 1/2 cups of Rajma, you would need about 3-3 1/2 cups of water. Since the Rajma is being cooked for a long time, it's important to use sufficient water otherwise there is a risk of burning the rajma even on low heat.

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