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rajma chawal recipe | Punjabi rajma chawal | how to make rajma chawal |

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Tarla Dalal

 17 February, 2025

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About Rajma Chawal, Punjabi Rajma Chawal down arrow
Ingredients down arrow
Methods down arrow
Like rajma chawal down arrow
For cooking the long-grained rice down arrow
Preparation for Rajma Chawal down arrow
How to make rajma chawal down arrow
Nutrient values down arrow

rajma chawal recipe | Punjabi rajma chawal | how to make rajma chawal | with 27 amazing images.

Follow this easy rajma chawal recipe, which is a slight variation to Rajma, one of the most popular dishes in North India from Punjab. In this Punjabi rajma chawal delicacy, cooked kidney beans is excitingly flavoured with a wide array of ingredients ranging from ginger and green chillies to tomatoes and onions, spices and masala powders too and then mixed with rice. However, you will be surprised to see that all these are everyday ingredients, which you do not have to go shopping for!

We have got you a perfect recipe for a long and tiring day and one which is loved by each and everyone. Rajma and rice, no meal can be more satiating. This famous combination of rajma chawal is a complete one meal dinner and healthy protein for Vegetarians as it’s a cereal and pulse combination.

Rajma chawal is derived from Punjab and this recipe is super unique as we have mixed the rajma curry and cooked basmati rice and made it like a pulao. This Punjabi rajma chawal can be easily made if you have soaked rajma a day prior. I am sure not even an amateur will go wrong with this one. This recipe is on my menu atleast once in a 2 weeks as it is loved by all my family remembers and my kids go crazy for Rajma chawal. Also, the best part is that it is a one meal dish and supremely tummy filling so you don’t need to cook anything else and have this heavy meal with raita or curd as an accompaniment.

To make rajma chawal, heat the oil in a pressure cooker and add the cumin seeds and asafoetida. Hing helps in digestion and avoid tummy problem after consuming rajma. Add the onions and ginger-garlic paste. Generally, rajma has a thick gravy made because a common base that is onions and tomato puree but here instead of using a puree of both the ingredients we have chopped onions and tomatoes to give a nice bite to the rice. Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander-cumin seeds powder and salt. Add the rajma and 1 cup of water, mix well and pressure cook for 4 whistles. Press a rajma bean between your thumb and index finger to check whether it has been cooked completely or no, there should be no resistance when you bite into it. If at all they are firm to bite then add some more water and pressure cook for another 1-2 whistles as per your requirement. Add the cooked rice. Before adding the rice, if you find the rajma too watery then cook without a lid till the excess water evaporates Add the coriander and mix well.

A tangy preparation of rajma is combined with cooked rice to make a lip-smacking Rajma Chawal, which stays fresh in the kids tiffin box for at least 5 hours. It’s almost like having rice with a rajma curry to accompany it, but the best part is that it comes in a convenient one-dish package that is easy for kids to handle at lunch time. We have taken care to make the chawal a little moist, so that it does not get dry after a few hours. So, do not worry if you end up with a slightly moist rice when done; that Punjabi rajma chawal how it is meant to be.

Enjoy rajma chawal recipe | Punjabi rajma chawal | how to make rajma chawal | with detailed step by step photos and video below.

 

Rajma Chawal, Punjabi Rajma Chawal recipe - How to make Rajma Chawal, Punjabi Rajma Chawal

Tags

Preparation Time

10 Mins

Cooking Time

23 Mins

Total Time

33 Mins

Makes

4 servings

Ingredients

Method

For rajma chawal
 

  1. To make rajma chawal, heat the oil in a pressure cooker and add the cumin seeds and asafoetida and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds.
  2. Add the onions and ginger-garlic paste and sauté on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander-cumin seeds powder and salt, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
  4. Add the rajma and 1 cup of water, mix well and pressure cook for 4 whistles.
  5. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid.
  6. Add the cooked rice, mix gently and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
  7. Add the coriander and mix well.


How to pack
 

  1. Allow the rajma chawal to cool completely, and pack in an air-tight tiffin box.

rajma chawal recipe | Punjabi rajma chawal | how to make rajma chawal | Video by Tarla Dalal

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Rajma Chawal, Punjabi Rajma Chawal recipe with step by step photos

Like rajma chawal

 

    1. If you like the rajma chawal recipe | Punjabi rajma chawal | how to make rajma chawal | given below are the links to rajma recipes :
For cooking the long-grained rice

 

    1. To begin making the rajma chawal , you can either pressure cook the rice or cook them on a stovetop. I will be cooking them directly on a stovetop as it gives you control over the cooking time. Wash around ¾ cup of rice thoroughly. You can use any variety of rice. In fact, making use of leftover rice works well for this rajma chawal tiffin treat. To save time, you can cook rice simultaneously while the rajma is pressure cooking. So rajma curry and chawal will be ready at the same time
    2. Soak in 3 cups of water for 30 minutes. Cover with a lid and keep aside
    3. Drain the rice with the help of a strainer.
    4. Boil a vessel full of water, add 1 tbsp of oil
    5. Add salt
    6. Add the rice to the boiling water
    7. Cook till the rice is al dente, stirring once or twice in between. The rice grain must be fully cooked yet firm.
    8. Pour into a colander and let the water drain out
    9. Spread the cooked rice on a plate to cool
    10. Cover with another place so the top layer of rice does not dry out while they are cooling
Preparation for Rajma Chawal

 

    1. For making the rajma, wash the kidney beans very well. Use fresh stock of rajma or else they won’t cook well
    2. Submerge 1/2 cups of rajma in enough water. You can make use of canned kidney beans as well if in a hurry
    3. Cover them with a lid and soak them overnight. It is important to soak them well so, they get cooked easily
    4. After soaking, drain the rajma. They will look like this
How to make rajma chawal

 

    1. To make rajma chawal recipe | Punjabi rajma chawal | how to make rajma chawal | for lunch, heat the oil in a pressure cooker. Oil can be replaced with ghee or butter.
    2. Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds.
    3. Add asafoetida and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds. Hing helps in digestion and avoid tummy problem after consuming rajma.
    4. Add onions. Generally, rajma has a thick gravy made because a common base that is onions and tomato puree but here instead of using a puree of both the ingredients we have chopped onions and tomatoes to give a nice bite to the rice.
    5. Add ginger-garlic paste
    6. Sauté on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes or until they are translucent and the raw aroma of garlic has gone
    7. Add tomatoes. If you want the rajma chawal to be tangier, then add a dash of anardana or amchoor powder.
    8. Add turmeric powder
    9. Add chilli powder. Add more or less as per the spice you prefer
    10. Add coriander-cumin seeds powder, and salt. Skip adding all the dry spices if you are making use of store-bought rajma masala as it contains all the spices
    11. Mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally
    12. Add rajma
    13. Add 1 cup of water
    14. Mix well and pressure cook for 4 whistles. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Press a rajma bean between your thumb and index finger to check whether it has been cooked completely or no, there should be no resistance when you bite into it. If at all they are firm to bite then add some more water and pressure cook for another 1-2 whistles as per your requirement
    15. Add cooked rice. Before adding the rice, if you find the rajma too watery then cook without a lid till the excess water evaporates
    16. Mix gently and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally
    17. Add coriander to elevate the freshness in rajma
    18. Mix rajma chawal | Punjabi rajma chawal | how to make rajma chawal | gently and your rajma chawal is ready. Allow rajma rice to cool completely, and pack in an air-tight tiffin box if taking it for work lunch or packing for your kid’s lunch box.
Nutrient values (Abbrv)per plate
Nutrient values (Abbrv) per serving
Energy261 cal
Protein7.1 g
Carbohydrates42.3 g
Fiber2.8 g
Fat7 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Sodium6.3 mg

Click here to view Calories for Rajma Chawal, Punjabi Rajma Chawal

The Nutrient info is complete

Your Rating*

user
Preethi

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user
Manali Gawad

March 13, 2025, midnight

Lovely, quick and quite easy recipe. Tastes good.

5 
user
Kamali

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Mam, In the ingredients, is the rajma quantity before soaking or after soaking?

5 
user
Upskumar

March 13, 2025, midnight

Easy steps. Known ingredients. Dipper taste. Best explained. Thank you

5 
user
Sayali Shenai

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hello mam, I loved this recipe short and time consuming. I will be trying this for tomorrow thank you.

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Sayali, let us know how the recipe works.

user
Leena Salia

March 13, 2025, midnight

It''s great way of making tasty dish and liked by everyone

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Leena, we are delighted you loved the Rajma Chawal recipe. Please keep posting your thoughts and feedback and review recipes you have loved. Happy Cooking.

user
Payal Parikh 86

March 13, 2025, midnight

This is a great recipe for kids as well as adults. This is also a great option for lunch boxes. Love this as it is tasty and filling.

5 
user
putul mandal

March 13, 2025, midnight

low afford tasty recipe

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Putul, we are delighted you loved the recipe. Please keep posting your thoughts and feedback and review recipes you have loved. Happy Cooking.

user
Preethi

March 13, 2025, midnight

Low effort, easy and quick and tasty recipe..

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi, Thank you for your kind words. Do try more and more recipes and let us know how you enjoyed them. Happy Cooking !!

user
arun kumar

March 13, 2025, midnight

i love d your post.

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

We are delighted you loved the Rajma Chawal recipe. Please keep posting your thoughts and feedback and review recipes you have loved. Happy Cooking.

user
Foodie #561349

March 13, 2025, midnight

For any mom with a fussy eating toddler, it feels absolutely delightful to see them eating a healthy food like this without coaxing! This recipe is simple, healthy and we can be rest assured that it will turn out good. My 3 yr old relished it and so did we.Thanks Tarla aunty.

5 
user
Healthy Eating

March 13, 2025, midnight

Another great combo. I would have the Rajma with Brown rice to make it healthier. Rajma in any form is a great source of protein and great for vegetarians like me.

5 
user
Adelaine

March 13, 2025, midnight

Excellent recipe. Quick and easy too. Totally love it!

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Thanks Adelaine. Keep trying new recipes and posting your comments. We would love to hear from you.

user
S Chandran

March 13, 2025, midnight

It''s very simple to make and tasty too.

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

We are delighted you loved the Rajma Chawal recipe. Please keep posting your thoughts and feedback and review recipes you have loved. Happy Cooking!

user
S Chandran

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user
Pradeep

March 13, 2025, midnight

Cooked it today. Initially the quantity ratio was hard to believe, but with all courage I started for 08members menu. Followed the exact quantity of each menu item. Ended up with a delicious rajma dish. Thanks for the recipe!!

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Thanks for the feedback !!! Keep reviewing recipes and articles you loved.

user
mousumi patnaik

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user

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