• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Recipe Garden

Easy Vegetable Recipes, Corn, Pancake Recipes & More

  • All Recipes
  • Resources
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Resources
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Resources
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
×

Instant Pot Rajma (Red Kidney Beans) With Sweet Potatoes

Published: Aug 30, 2020 Modified: Sep 3, 2020 by Recipe Garden This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Instant pot rajma or red kidney beans with Indian spices and vegetables like potatoes and sweet potatoes is so delicious, simple, nutritious and super easy to make in the instant pot. This rajma masala or rajma curry with veggies go great with cooke white rice or brown rice or Indian breads like chapathi, naan, poori etc.

instant pot rajma red kidney beans curry

The addition of potatoes and sweet potatoes help the curry to naturally thicken with a lot of delicious flavors!

instant pot red kidney beans with sweet potatoes

The sweet potatoes will be very soft cooked and will just melt into the gravy making it so delicious and flavorful.

instant pot rajma red kidney beans
Contents hide
1 What Is Rajma?
2 Should You Soak Rajma/Red Kidney Beans?
3 How To Make Instant Pot Rajma With Sweet Potatoes?
4 Main Ingredients Used In This Recipe:
5 Ingredients to make instant pot rajma
6 Step by step instructions
7 Can You Make Rajma On Stove Top?
8 More Instant Pot Beans Recipes:
9 Instant Pot Rajma (Red Kidney Beans) With Sweet Potatoes
9.1 Ingredients
9.1.1 spices:
9.1.2 For seasoning (optional):
9.2 Instructions
9.2.1 To make the seasoning (optional):
9.3 Nutrition

What Is Rajma?

Rajma is simply red kidney beans.

light red kidney beans

In India, rajma refers to a very popular Punjabi style cooked kidney beans with a tomato and onion based masala with spices. That is very delicious and goes great with rice & breads.

However, this rajma curry is different since we do not use the tomato onion based masala in this recipe.

instant pot light red kidney beans masala

We use potatoes and sweet potatoes along with Indian spices to make delicious soft cooked rajma curry which too goes great with rice & breads!

And this rajma curry is even more easy to make, especially in the instant pot.

Rajma or red kidney beans is available in two varieties – dark red kidney beans and light red kidney beans.

I used light red kidney beans in this recipe. Also I used dried red kidney beans (not canned) for this recipe to make the rajma curry.

instant pot rajma masala

Should You Soak Rajma/Red Kidney Beans?

I prefer soaking rajma or red kidney beans prior to cooking and discard the water used for soaking the raw dried beans.

soak rajma kidney beans

This is because, rajma or red kidney beans is somewhat toxic when it is raw and it is always recommended to soak the rajma for several hours prior to cooking.

Then discard the water used for soaking the beans and also rinse the soaked beans in fresh water very well before you use them for cooking.

Also, soaking the beans prior to cooking helps the beans to cook really soft which makes this dish more delicious.

How To Make Instant Pot Rajma With Sweet Potatoes?

instant pot rajma with sweet potatoes

Main Ingredients Used In This Recipe:

The main ingredients used to make this rajma curry are soaked rajma (red kidney beans) and also potatoes & sweet potatoes.

soaked light red kidney beans
potatoes and sweet potatoes
ingredients to make rajma curry

The potatoes and sweet potatoes need to be diced into cubes before using in the recipe!

sliced potatoes and sweet potatoes

However, we need more ingredients to make the rajma in the instant pot and here you can see all the ingredients used to make the red kidney beans curry in the instant pot.

Ingredients to make instant pot rajma

dry red kidney beans (rajma beans) 2 cups (I used light red kidney beans)

salt as needed

water 4 cups (plus more water for soaking the beans)

sweet potatoes 2 medium sized (diced into cubes)

potatoes 3 medium sized (diced into cubes)

tamarind paste 1 teaspoon (or use same amount of tomato paste or use 2 tablespoons of any tomato based sauce)

thick coconut milk ½ cup (or use heavy cream)

oil 2 tablespoons

spices:

onion powder 1 teaspoon

garlic powder 2 teaspoons (or use 2 fresh garlic cloves crushed)

turmeric powder ½ teaspoon

red chili powder or paprika ½ teaspoon (optional)

coriander powder 2 teaspoons

curry powder 2 teaspoons (or garam masala)

For seasoning (optional):

oil 1 tablespoon

mustard seeds or cumin seeds ½ teaspoon

red chilies dried 1 or 2 broken

minced onions or shallots 1 tablespoon

Step by step instructions

Wash the beans very well and soak in enough water overnight or for about 10 to 12 hours.

Once soaked for enough time, discard the water used for soaking the beans and rinse the beans thoroughly in water for 2 to 3 times more.

Transfer the soaked and washed beans to the instant pot.

rajma instant pot

Add the diced potatoes and sweet potatoes also to the instant pot.

Add the water, salt, spices and tamarind (or tomato paste or tomato based sauce) also to the instant pot, stir everything well.

adding sweet potatoes
add spices, water

Close the instant pot with lid in sealing position, press ‘pressure cook’ button and set the timer for 30 minutes to cook the beans in high pressure.

Keep in mind that since there is a good amount of contents in the pot, it will take some time to come to pressure (about 15 minutes).

Once the cooking is done, press the cancel button and wait for a natural pressure release.

You may do a careful, controlled and gradual manual pressure relase after about 15 minutes of natural pressure release, if you want to make it faster.

Once the pressure is all released, carefully open the lid of the instant pot, stir the contents (the sweet potatoes will be cooked very soft and it will melt in with the gravy).

cooked rajma with sweet potatoes

Add the 2 tablespoons of oil and coconut milk, stir in.

add coconut milk

Press saute button and simmer the contents for a couple of minutes so the coconut milk will blend in with the curry.

instant pot rajma masala
perfect rajma instant pot

Now the curry is prepared, transfer it from the hot instant pot to a cool place so it won’t cook further.

Now you can prepare the seasoning too, if you wish to add the seasoning!

To make the seasoning (optional):

Heat the one tablespoon of oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds (or cumin seeds).

Once the mustard seeds splutter (if using cumin seeds, they just need to lightly brown), add the broken dried chilies and also the minced onions.

tadka for rajma

Once the minced onions are lightly fried, the seasoning is ready to be used!

Pour this prepared seasoning over the prepared red kidney beans curry (rajma curry).

rajma with seasoning

Stir in the seasoning with the curry gently, serve the delicious rajma curry with cooked white basmati rice or brown rice (any rice of your choice) or with Indian flatbreads like chapathi, poori, naan bread etc as you wish!

You can also garnish the prepared rajma curry with chopped fresh cilantro leaves (about one to two tablespoons will be enough) if you have it!

Can You Make Rajma On Stove Top?

Yes, you can make rajma on stove top as well using a pressure cooker.

Just make sure to soak the beans for several hours prior to cooking, rinse the beans again in fresh water and cook in a regular pressure cooker.

I have made this rajma with potatoes and carrots on stove top using a pressure cooker, the recipe for which is quite similar to this rajma with potatoes & sweet potatoes.

Also I have this kidney beans with butternut squash recipe which is also prepared on stove top using a pressure cooker and which is also very delicious!

More Instant Pot Beans Recipes:

instant pot chickpeas (garbanzo beans) no soak

instant pot chana masala

instant pot soaked chickpeas recipe

easy instant pot chickpea curry

instant pot mung bean curry

mung bean soup in instant pot

instant pot black bean spinach curry

instant pot black beans with soaked beans

instant pot moong dal fry

Below you can get the recipe for instant pot rajma with potatoes and sweet potatoes in detail.

instant pot rajma red kidney beans

Instant Pot Rajma (Red Kidney Beans) With Sweet Potatoes

Instant pot rajma or red kidney beans masala curry with potatoes, spices and Indian spices makes a very delicious, nutritious side dish with rice or breads.
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: instant pot rajma, instant pot red kidney beans
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
soaking time for red kidney beans: 10 hours
Servings: 8
Calories: 295kcal
Author: Recipe Garden

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dry red kidney beans rajma beans (I used light red kidney beans)
  • salt as needed
  • 4 cups water plus more water for soaking the beans
  • 2 medium sized sweet potatoes diced into cubes
  • 3 medium sized potatoes diced into cubes
  • 1 teaspoon tamarind paste or use same amount of tomato paste or use 2 tablespoons of any tomato based sauce
  • ½ cup thick coconut milk or use heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons oil

spices:

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoon garlic powder or use 2 fresh garlic cloves crushed
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ½ teaspoon red chili powder or paprika optional
  • 2 teaspoons coriander powder
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder or garam masala

For seasoning (optional):

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds or cumin seeds
  • 2 red chilies dried broken
  • 1 tablespoon minced onions or shallots

Instructions

  • Wash the beans very well and soak in enough water overnight or for about 10 to 12 hours.
    soak rajma kidney beans
  • Once soaked for enough time, discard the water used for soaking the beans and rinse the beans thoroughly in water for 2 to 3 times more.
    soaked light red kidney beans
  • Transfer the soaked and washed beans to the instant pot.
    rajma instant pot
  • Add the diced potatoes and sweet potatoes also to the instant pot.
    adding sweet potatoes
  • Add the water, salt, spices and tamarind (or tomato paste or tomato based sauce) also to the instant pot, stir everything well.
    add spices, water
  • Close the instant pot with lid in sealing position, press 'pressure cook' button and set the timer for 30 minutes to cook the beans in high pressure.
    Once the cooking is done, press the cancel button and wait for a natural pressure release.
    You may do a careful, controlled and gradual manual pressure relase after about 15 minutes of natural pressure release, if you want to make it faster.
    Once the pressure is all released, carefully open the lid of the instant pot, stir the contents (the sweet potatoes will be cooked very soft and it will melt in with the gravy).
    cooked rajma with sweet potatoes
  • Add the 2 tablespoons of oil and coconut milk, stir in.
    add coconut milk
  • Press saute button and simmer the contents for a couple of minutes so the coconut milk will blend in with the curry. Now the curry is prepared, transfer it from the hot instant pot to a cool place so it won't cook further.
    Now you can prepare the seasoning too, if you wish to add the seasoning!
    instant pot rajma masala

To make the seasoning (optional):

  • Heat the one tablespoon of oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds (or cumin seeds).
    Once the mustard seeds splutter (if using cumin seeds, they just need to lightly brown), add the broken dried chilies and also the minced onions.
    tadka for rajma
  • Once the minced onions are lightly fried, pour this prepared seasoning over the prepared red kidney beans curry (rajma curry).
    rajma with seasoning
  • Stir in the seasoning with the curry gently, serve the delicious rajma curry with cooked white basmati rice or brown rice (any rice of your choice) or with Indian flatbreads like chapathi, poori, naan bread etc as you wish!
    instant pot rajma red kidney beans

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 921mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 8160IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 4mg

« Instant Pot Dalia Upma (Uppumavu) – Bulgur Wheat Upma
Dum Aloo Matar In Instant Pot – Potatoes In Peas Masala »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Popular Posts

  • Homemade Pancakes From Scratch Without Baking Powder
  • Baked Frozen Mini Corn On The Cob With Foil In Oven
  • How To Toast Bread In Oven?
  • How To Cook Mung Beans Without Soaking – Green Moong Dal

AMAZON ASSOCIATE DISCLOSURE

Recipe Garden is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Footer

↑ back to top

About

Privacy Policy

Disclaimer

About

Subscribe

Sign Up! for emails and updates

Resources

Resources

All Recipes

Recipe Index

Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2021 RECIPE GARDEN

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework