Curried Red Kidney Beans And Cauliflower Rajma Masala

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Red kidney beans are very nutritious. They are, however, harder to digest than other beans, which is why they're traditionally cooked with seasonings that help break them down, such as ginger. Use spices that are as fresh as possible--their health benefits, let alone their flavors, will be more potent that way. Garam masala is a mixture of warming spices; find it at indian grocery stores or gourmet groceries. From sunset. Cooking time does not include the time needed to cook your rice or cook dried beans, if using.

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Steps

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Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed 4- to 5-qt.

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Pot or saucepan over medium-high heat.

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Add onion and fry , stirring occasionally , 2 to 3 minutes , or until slightly softened.

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Stir in cinnamon , bay leaf , garlic , ginger , fennel , cumin , and cardamom and fry , stirring , 2 minutes.

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Add cayenne , coriander , turmeric , and garam masala and fry , stirring , 1 minute.

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Shred tomatoes into pot with your fingers.

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Stir in serrano chile , salt , kidney beans , cauliflower , and 1 1 / 2 cups water.

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Lower heat to medium-low , cover , and simmer 20 minutes , or until cauliflower is tender and liquid has thickened into a velvety-looking sauce.

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Season beans with salt if needed.

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Stir in lemon juice and cilantro.

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Serve hot over brown rice , with plain yogurt on the side if you like.

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Ingredients

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vegetable oil, onion, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, garlic clove, ginger, fennel, cumin seed, green cardamom pods, cayenne, ground coriander, turmeric, garam masala, plum tomatoes, serrano chili, salt, red kidney beans, cauliflower, lemon juice, fresh cilantro stem, brown rice