Rajma Palak

Festival means lots of shopping; shopping means drop-dead-tired; that in turns means a nice, sumptuous lunch/dinner @ Saravana Bhavan or Rathna Cafe or a quick chat @ Adyar Ananda Bhavan or Gangotri.

Having brought up in this luxury of having round-the-corner-eateries, I really really miss India! So whenever I get a chance, I try hunt all the Indian food joints here, from perfectly-ambient-restaurants to small take away services. On one such instance last weekend, I stumbled upon this Rajma Palak and was pleasantly surprised, because not even in the faintest of my imagination would Rajma and Palak go together!! I tried to recreate it again at home and was quite successful too.

Rajma PalakRed Kidney beans simmered in Spinach gravy
Serves 2


What we need:Rajma - 1 cup
Spinach leaves - 200 g
Tomato puree - 1 to 1.5 cups
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp.
Cumin powder - 1 tbsp.
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Ginger-Garlic paste - 1/2 tbsp.
Asafoetida - 1 pinch
Oil/Ghee - 3 tbsp.
Salt - as needed
Water - as needed
Milk - 3 tbsp.
Cream - 3 to 4 tbsp. Optional

Optional Ingredients: Enhances the flavor and gives a texture to the gravy
Paneer - 100 g, cut to 1" inch cubes
Chopped tomato - 5 or 6 small pieces
Garam Masala - a pinch

How to do:1. Soak the Rajma overnight. Change the water and pressure cook the dal (about 4 to 5 whistles) or until soft.
2. Wash, clean and boil the spinach for about 5 minutes. Let them to cool and blend them coarsely. If you would like to have a restaurant style gravy, blend it into a smooth paste.
3. Heat Oil/Ghee. If you are adding Paneer,fry the Paneer cubes till they start to brown out on the edges. Drain and drop into warm water to keep them soft.
4. Heat the remaining oil/ghee and add cumin seeds. When they start to sizzle, add a pinch of Asafoetida, Ginger-Garlic paste, Turmeric powder.
5. When they are done, add the tomato puree, chopped tomatoes, salt, cumin powder. Stir well and fry till the fat starts to separate from the gravy.
6. Add the pureed Spinach and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. If you are using frozen spinach, thaw it accordingly to the instructions and add.
7. Add the rajma at this point and reduce the heat to low-medium. Let this simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Keep stirring in between.
8. After the gravy has simmered, add the fried paneer, cream, milk, garam masala. Mix well and remove from the flame.

Serve with Naan or Rotis. Goes well with Rice and papad too!

Sending this to JFI Rajma by Divya started by Indira of Mahanadi

Yet another award time!!

Vidya and Raje has given me a Giant Bear Hug.

Another "One Lovely blog" award has been given by Kitchen Queen and Raje.

Sree has passed on to me

Thank you so much friends. I am super excited!! :) Now I would like to pass it on to my new blogger buddies.

So here goes "A Fabulous Blog" award to


Mythreyi
Kitchen Queen
Sanghi
Collaborative curry

And "One lovely blog" award to


Prathiba
Sree
Kanchan

Happy Blogging and happy cooking!

29 comments:

my kitchen said...

Congrats on ur awards.Rajmapalak looks delicious & different combination

Mythreyi Dilip said...

Used to make Palak paneer, this is so innovative and healthy too. Candle presentation looks awesome:)

Congrats on ur awards and thanks a lot for sharing with me dear:)

chef and her kitchen said...

Lovely color combination of red and green..
Congrats on ur awards dear...
Thanks a lot for thinking of me and passing that award to me..

Ambika said...

Congrats Rohini!! Rajma Palak looks yummy.

Sreelekha Sumesh said...

Congrats on ur award and Thanks alot for sharing with me:)keep rocking dear:)

Priya dharshini said...

hot an spicy rajma with a fire on top..well done rohini

Unknown said...

This looks really creamy and healthy. Thanks for sending this for JFI:Rajma!

Haddock said...

. . . . .and its healthy, especially the Palak.
The best I liked about this is the minimal use of oil.

Unknown said...

congrats dear looks spicy and delcious...Great combination..

RV @ Food for 7 Stages said...

yummy rajma and nice click.. do visit my blog in your leisure
http://sourashtrakitchen.blogspot.com

Raje said...

Beautiful presentation and a yummy dish Rohini! Congratulations on the awards. Keep rocking Dear...

Sunitha said...

Good job yaar.. like your presentation!

Sushma Mallya said...

Nice healthy dish...congraz on ur awards rohini,hope u get lots more in future,,keep it going..

Kanchan said...

Totally New Dish to me ! will surely try it out!
And Thanks a lot for award dear, I am really overwhelmed !

Sanghi said...

Wow.. Congrats! thanks a lot dear for the cute award..!

Rohini said...

@ All: Thanks a lot!!

@ Haddock: Yeah, but I felt even 3 tbsp. was a bit more, since we don't have anything to fry too much. :) So you can even try with 2 or 1.5 tbsp of Oil!

Priya Suresh said...

Droolworthy rajma palak dish Rohini..looks prefect and healthy side dish for rotis, congrats on ur awards and keep rocking..

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your awards..wonderful recipe..

Jeyashris Kitchen said...

hey new recipe.i make rajma masala only rajma with palak sunds healthy too.nicely presented.congrats on ur awards

Chitra said...

very new to me.A must try dish :)

Anupama said...

You have a great collection here, Rohini. Following you!

Tina said...

Hi rohini first time here...i luv rajma but never tried rajma with palak....thanku so mush for this recipe...

Unknown said...

Looks lovely and congrats on your award.

Sreelekha Sumesh said...

Da..

1 more award is waiting in my blog..

Sandhya Hariharan said...

Anytime tasty ...is rajma.. its an excellent comboo too.

Pls collect the giant bear hug from my blog...
Thanks 4 sharing with me!

Padhu said...

Rajma palak looks yummy .Thanks for visiting my blog.Do drop in when time permits.

Dori said...

Two goodies put together to make one super dish! Congrat's on the awards :)

Sujaa Sriram said...

Hey dear rohini, Congrats on your awards.

And your Rajma palak is delicious and beautiful presentation and space you have.

Do visit and follow my blog when you find time you'll surely enjoy my space.

Sujaa Sriram said...

Hey Rohini

Do visit and post your valuable comments on my blog

Preethi's Culinary

Surely you'll feel at home...
as i felt in your space. You have wonderful collections dear