
Rajma chawal bowl
The comfort lunch, portioned: a katori of rajma over a small mound of rice, 15 g fibre.
- Active time
- 50 min (10 prep + 40 cook)
- Plan ahead
- Soak the rajma overnight
- Makes
- 1 serving
- Level
- Medium
- Gear
- Pressure cooker, Kadai
Per serving
1 bowl (400 g)
- Calories
- 440kcal
- Protein
- 18g
- Carbs
- 86g
- Fibre
- 15g
- Fat
- 6g
- Sugar
- 6g
Kidney beans pressure cooked and simmered in a cumin-scented onion, tomato and ginger gravy, served over rice. Rajma and rice together make a complete protein, and the beans give more fibre and iron than almost any other everyday food. The portion here keeps the rice modest so the beans do the filling.
- High fibre
- Iron rich
- Budget
- No added sugar
- Lunch
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Ingredients
Method
- 1
Drain the rajma, add 300 ml fresh water and salt, and pressure cook on high to the first whistle, then on low for 20 minutes. Let the pressure drop; the beans should mash easily.
- 2
Meanwhile cook the rice in 150 ml water: bring to a boil on high, cover, and cook on low for 12 minutes. Rest 5 minutes off the heat.
- 3
Heat the oil in a kadai on medium. Add cumin and bay leaf, then onion, and cook 5 minutes until golden. Add ginger and garlic for 1 minute.
- 4
Add tomato puree, coriander powder, chilli powder and salt. Cook 5 minutes until thick. Add the rajma with its water and simmer on low for 10 minutes, mashing a few beans to thicken.
- 5
Finish with garam masala and coriander. Serve over the rice.
Tips
- Never cook rajma that was soaked under 8 hours; it stays hard and is hard on the stomach.
- Cook 4 times the rajma and freeze in portions; the rice is quick to make fresh.
Swaps
- Swap half the rice for 100 g sauteed cabbage to cut 70 kcal and add crunch.
Storage
Rajma keeps 3 days in the fridge or 2 months frozen. Rice is best eaten the same day.
Nutrition is estimated per serving from IFCT 2017 and USDA FoodData Central and rounded. Your ingredients and portions will differ a little.
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