Spicy Punjabi Red Kidney Bean Stew Food

SPICY PUNJABI RED KIDNEY BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Soak and cook the beans. (I recommend the quick cook oven method). Reserve the liquid Put the oil in a wide medium pot and set over medium high heat. Add the onions and fry until the onions have browned slightly. Add the garlic and ginger and stir. Add the tomatoes, coriander, cayenne, cumin and chilie. Cook over medium heat for five to six minutes, or until the tomatoes have slightly reduced. Stir in the cooked beans, their liquid, the salt and the lemon juice. Simmer on low for 10 minutes. Serve hot.

RAJMAH (PUNJABI CURRIED RED KIDNEY BEAN) (SLOW-COOKER)

Steps:

• Safety note: This is not part of the recipe, but it is information that has recently been highlighted in various places. Dry beans, especially dry red kidney beans, contain a toxin called Phytohaemagglutinin, which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Soaking and boiling dry beans helps remove this toxin to make beans safe to eat -- in a slow cooker, the temperature never gets hot enough to heat up dry beans sufficiently [source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration]. They recommend that you first soak them for a minimum of 12 hours, rinse them, and then boil them for 10 minutes. Singla has said that the long cooking here has the same effect, but if you have any concerns, please use these instructions, and expect the beans to finish cooking more quickly. Use less water if you start with soaked beans.
• Put all ingredients except the cilantro and the rice into a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker. Cook on High for 11 hours, until the beans break down and the whole is somewhat creamy. (Several people have mentioned that it seems watery, so you might want to try less water - definitely less water if beans were pre-soaked).
• If you can find them, remove the cloves and the cinnamon stick. If the beans are not as creamy as you want them, stick your immersion blender in there and whir a bit. (Or remove about one cup of the beans and process in blender or food processor). Most of the beans should remain whole.
• Stir in cilantro and serve over rice.
• Optional: Stir in 1 cup yogurt, cover and let sit for 10 minutes, for a tangy twist.
• Use a 3 1/2 quart slow cooker if making half the quantity.

PRESSURE COOKER PUNJABI RAJMA (INDIAN SPICED KIDNEY BEANS)

Steps:

• Add oil to the pot of an electric pressure cooker. Stir in onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, cayenne, coriander, cumin, garam masala, turmeric and salt.
• Place a trivet on top of onion mixture. In a medium metal heatproof bowl (one that will fit inside the pressure cooker), combine beans and 2 cups water. Cover with foil and place on trivet.
• Cover and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick-release any remaining pressure.
• Remove bowl and trivet from pressure cooker, remove foil, and lightly mash about half of the beans. Scrape into onion mixture, then set the pressure cooker's sauté function to high. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes to let the flavors meld. Taste and add more salt, if necessary. Serve with rice, if you like.

PUNJABI RAJMA (KIDNEY BEANS)

Steps:

• Rinse and drain kidney beans.
• Heat the oil on medium to medium high.
• Add cumin seeds, ginger, and chilies. Sautee until cumin seeds darken, about one minute, or how you like.
• Add tomatoes with the water from the can. Simmer uncovered until the liquid has reduced quite a bit, again to your preference. The longer you simmer, the tastier it will be!
• Add the rest of the spices and mix well.
• Add the kidney beans and mix well.
• Add the water. Simmer uncovered until the liquid has evaporated to the consistency you like. Feel free to add more water, or add less to begin with.
• About 15 minutes before you expect it to finished, add the chopped cilantro and stir.
• Garnish with the rest of the cilantro when you are ready to eat it!

SPICY RED BEAN AND CHORIZO STEW

Steps:

• Place the beans in a large bowl with cold water to cover and soak for at least 4 hours or overnight; drain and rinse the beans.
• In a large, heavy frying pan, heat the oil over med-high heat.
• Add the onions, celery, and bell pepper and saute until softened and just beginning to brown, about 6 minutes.
• Add the garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 1 minute.
• Pour in 1 cup of the broth and stir to scrape up any browned bits on the pan bottom.
• Transfer the contents of the pan to a slow cooker and stir in the drained beans, remaining 3 cups broth, the vinegar, pepper flakes to taste, bay leaves, and chorizo.
• Cover and cook on LOW setting for 6-8 hours, stirring once or twice.
• The beans should be very tender.
• Discard the bay leaves; season with salt, pepper, and Tabasco.
• If desired, using the back of a spoon, mash some of the beans against the inside of the cooker to thicken the stew.
• Spoon rice into shallow bowls, top with the stew and serve.