Tag: red kidney beans

Rajma with Cilantro and Dill (Red Kidney Beans Stew)

2 cups dry red kidney beans
6 cups water
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
3 inches ginger, chopped
1 14.5 oz can chopped tomatoes
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
2 teaspoons coriander powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons butter or ghee
½ cup fresh dill, chopped
1 cup fresh cilantro, divided in 2 bunches and chopped
2 teaspoons garam masala

For this recipe you either need a pressure cooker or a slow cooker.

In a pressure cooker add the kidney beans, water, onion, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, salt, turmeric, cumin seeds, coriander powder, cayenne pepper, butter, dill and ½ cup cilantro. Place the lid on top and cook on high heat till the pressure cooker gives out steam. Lower the heat and cook for 2-3 hours. Turn the heat off and open the lid. Evaporate the water till the dish reaches a thick soup consistency while smashing some of the beans with the back of a ladle. Add the remaining cilantro and garam masala. Check for seasonings and serve with rice.

Three Bean Salad with Nectarines

Three Bean and Nectarin Salad Here is another summer dish that is super simple to make and delicious at the same time. I made this one for a barbecue we were invited to. I offered to make a bean salad and decided to add juicy nectarines to the mix.

Like mangoes, nectarines add a delicious sweet, tangy aspect to any dish.

I used garbanzo, kidney and black beans. I added green onions, cilantro and the nectarines- that is it. You can assemble this salad in advance and refrigerate it until you serve your meal. In fact it tastes better if you dress it in advance and let it sit for a while. The flavors marry each other and taste delicious.

Speaking of the dressing, I made an orange chipotle one for this salad. I juiced two large navel oranges, one lemon and paired them with a chipotle pepper, honey and olive oil. It resulted in a delicious, fresh tasting dressing. I mixed the salad with the dressing and kept in the fridge until we were ready to go for the get together.

The salad was served with some lamp burgers and corn. Everything was delicious, especially the salad. It was a perfect balance of spice, sweet and tangy- my favorite flavor combination!
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Indian Bean Recipe: Rajma (Red Kidney Beans)

Rajma1 I feel I am giving out a delicious family secret with this recipe. Rajma or red kidney beans are a very popular in North India- where I grew up. I think for me this is equivalent to the soothing effects of chicken soup. It’s soul food- the smell brings me back to my childhood. This is one meal (usually served with white rice) I can have everyday. It’s easy to make and absolutely delicious.

Every family has their own way of cooking this particular dish. Our’s, I believe is the easiest and the most delicious out there- that is why I have been a little hesitant to blog about this recipe …

The typical way of making this dish is to make a masala(cooking onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes together) and then adding it to the red beans. My grandma used to add everything to the pressure cooker and cook it for hours. This process is a lot easier and tastier. I have been using this method for as long as I can remember and actually use it for most of the lentils and beans I make.

My daughter reminds me to make rajma every few weeks- I am usually so busy coming up with new recipes that I forget about the ones I love and relish so much. The whole house has a very familiar smell when the beans are on the stove- it makes me feel safe and warm.

A Southwestern One Pot Recipe: Roasted Salsa Chicken with Red Beans

salsa-chicken-rice-and-beans This is another one pot meal I am proud of. I love when I come up with something that is enjoyed both by adults and kids. My daughter loved it even though she is not a fan of salsas or any tangy sauces. It started with me having tons of cherry tomatoes in the house. I decided to roast them with an onion and garlic and make a roasted salsa. My husband loves salsa with chips- so I thought we can consume the tomatoes in a tasty way. Once the salsa was made, I realized that it is essentially a sauce, with a lot of flavor- and I can cook with it! So I decided to make a rice dish with chicken and beans. I bought my favorite part of the chicken- thighs- I love cooking with them. They have so much more flavor than chicken breasts and they are a lot more forgiving in terms of cooking. Chicken thighs are perfect for curries, stews or really any dish- you can cook the heck out of them and they still taste delicious.

I sauteed them in some olive oil, salt and pepper. I then added the salsa and sauteed it with the chicken for a few minutes as I wanted the chicken to impart some delicious flavor into the sauce. I then added a can of red kidney beans and basmati rice. The beans added a delicious creaminess to the savory dish. I always cook my rice with chicken broth. I love using it- definitely one of my favorite ingredients to have around all the time. It’s a great way to add extra flavor to rice, sauces or curries. I buy the big case of organic chicken broth boxes from Costco- there are six in one big case and I go through them very quickly- since I use it in almost everything I make. If you are a vegetarian, I would recommend using vegetable broth instead.

The dish is easy to make since the salsa has all the flavor. You can also buy your favorite salsa from the store and cook this dish- definitely a quick ‘go to’ meal. It doesn’t take very long at all- the key is to have the staples at home- rice, chicken broth and some cans of your favorite beans.

The dish was a big success. I gave some leftovers to a friend. We ate as a family with a green salad and of course some wine.

Indian Style Rice and Beans

indian-style-rice-and-beans I had volunteered at Sia’s school to cook something for the healthy table at the fair. The foods at that table have had vegan, ethnic and healthy desserts in the past. I initially thought of baking a healthy bread or the chocolate zucchini bread I posted a few days ago- but then I thought maybe I should make a one pot rice dish instead – and maybe even a vegetarian one. The recipe on this blog calls for chicken broth but I made it with water for the fair. I decided to make a pulao, which is a rice dish that can include vegetables, beans or meat. I usually make a pulao with vegetables or meat- I thought maybe I should do an Indian version of rice and beans. Mexican and Indian flavors have so much in common, especially cumin, cilantro and the chilies. I wanted to include the cilantro sauce my grandma used to add to her pea rice dish. It is such a great way to give great flavor to the rice- cilantro, onion and garlic are blended and cooked with cumin before basmati rice is added. It is delicious! I decided to combine the two cuisines and come up with a one pot meal! I am in love with one pot meals- they are so convenient, especially if they are kid friendly. In this case, the rice has the protein from the beans- so I would pair it with a salad and call it a day. My daughter does not like salad dressing, so she eats lettuce without anything! – how weird it that?? I guess whatever works for her- I tell her she is missing out on all the delicious salad dressings out there but then she doesn’t like ketchup either! I digress- the rice dish was a big hit at the fair. I added raisins to it- I can’t help myself- I love the sweet juice right in the middle of the savory cilantro and garlic flavor. I was a little concerned about some people not liking the sweet with the savory but I think it was okay. The kids and adults enjoyed it!