Red Bean (Rajma) Curry With Garlic Seasoning.

"Tambdee' Beeyeche Losun Panna Ghalnu Saar~ Upkari/ Red Bean (Rajma) Curry With Garlic Seasoning" ... Ufffff the heat in Mumbai has crossed 40 deg. and relishing of Masala or Spicy dishes is simply No-No, yet the body craves for something tasty ... here is some Saar~Upkari (Patla Bhaji) that goes well when served with rice and a bhaji or fries for accompaniment ... Yummilicious .... 

** A simple dish that goes well with rice or roti. When the heat is unbearable during summer months all one prefers to have is a light lunch with loads of fresh juice, tender coconuts or salads and curds. But then one has to have food right, so here goes a simple pulse recipe with red bean that is not only yummy but light on tummy with loads of healthy nutrients too. You can add in veggies like lauki / garduddhe / dudhi etc. once the bean has been pressure cooked if desired. Many a times I do add, today however, I went along with just red bean. It tastes delicious either way, so go ahead and enjoy. 

** Here is my simple method of preparing "Tambdee' Beeyeche Losun Panna Ghalnu Saar~ Upkari/ Red Bean (Rajma) Curry With Garlic Seasoning" ... My Style ... Do try it whenever you want to go light on tummy .... 

** Wash and soak about 2 cups of Red Bean / light colored Rajma in plenty of water for 8-10 hours or overnight. Once the bean is soaked well it doubles in size and softens properly. Remove and wash again in plenty of water and put it in a pressure cooker with about 4 cups of water and pressure cook on medium flame to about 4-5 whistles. Let the pressure drop on it’s own and then open the lid. 

** Check out if the beans have cooked, if not you can cook it again after checking out if there is sufficient water and then pressuring cooking for 2 more whistles. The shelf life of the bean depends on its cooking ability. Sometimes it takes more time to cook while sometime it overcooks with just 3 whistles. So checking and proceeding with cooking to get right consistency is the best.  

** Add in the pressure cooked bean into a thick bottomed vessel and add in two cups of water, salt to taste and mix well. Apply pressure on some of the beans and mash them slightly, this is to bring in thicker consistency to the otherwise waterish saarupkari. Bring to a boil, check water consistency and add more only if necessary. Simmer for a good 5-10 minutes toll done well.

** For Tempering/ Seasoning : Add 1 tblsp of oil in a small pan. Slightly mash 12-15 garlic cloves with skin with a small stone or a masher. You can retain the skin or peel of the same too, I have retained the same here as it imparts more flavor to the curry, but the choice is yours. Fry till slightly brownish, then add in 3-4 red chilly pieces and continue frying for another minute. 

** Remove and pour over the saarupkari/ bean curry, mix well and bring the saarupkari/ bean curry to a rolling boil, remove from heat, cover and keep it aside for the flavours to seep in. You can also cut down on the number of red chillies while tempering to just two and add just 2-3 green chillies slit lengthwise to the saarupkari/ bean curry while cooking too, again the choice is yours.

** "Tambdee' Beeyeche Losun Panna Ghalnu Saar~ Upkari / Red Bean (Rajma) Curry With Garlic Seasoning" is done and ready to be served. Best served with rice along with any other upkari or bhaji as accompaniment. You can also serve this with simple roasted papad or a few bajos/ fries too. In my community we usually do the same as it serves the purpose of having light lunch/ dinner. 

** A simple food that can be relished at any time of the year when you want to go light on food. If you do not desire to eat rice you can relish this steaming hot like a bowl of soup with a few pieces of toasted bread slices. Whichever way you wish to enjoy this dish, do serve it piping hot for the full flavour to be enhanced.

** There are many more simple saar- upkari, bhaji etc. dishes in my Blog that which you can try when you want to go light or if you are in a hurry or again the day is going to be a busy one. Food plays important part in our lives and a delicious lunch/dinner or for that matter a breakfast is something everybody in home craves for, so to cut down the busy burden these dishes are life savers.