Indian Red Beans

Indian Red Beans is a medium Indian recipe that serves 4. 250 calories per serving. Recipe by Pankaj Sharma on YouTube.

Prep: 6 hrs 20 min | Cook: 1 hr 33 min | Total: 8 hrs 15 min

Cost: $4.53 total, $1.13 per serving

Ingredients

  • 250 g Dried red beans (Rinse before soaking)
  • 0,25 c. à café Baking soda (Helps soften the beans during soaking)
  • 650 ml Water (for cooking) (Approximate amount, adjust as needed)
  • 3 Whole black peppercorns (Whole, for flavoring the cooking)
  • 2 Cloves (Whole)
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 2 c. à soupe Vegetable oil (sunflower or canola) (For the tadka (spice tempering))
  • 3 c. à café Mustard seeds
  • 3 c. à café Cumin seeds (tadka)
  • 3 Fresh green chili (optional) (Deseed if you prefer less heat)
  • 2 Cardamom pods (Crushed)
  • 2 Onion (Cut into medium dice)
  • 2 Garlic cloves (Crushed or finely chopped)
  • 5 g Fresh ginger (Grated)
  • 1 c. à café Mild chili powder
  • 0,5 c. à café Ground cumin
  • 1 c. à café Coriander powder
  • 200 g Canned crushed tomatoes (Preferably without added salt)
  • 1 c. à café Dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) (Adds a fragrance of northern India)
  • 1 c. à café Salt (Or to taste)
  • 10 cl Additional water (To adjust consistency during final cooking)
  • Quelques brins Fresh coriander (For garnish before serving)

Instructions

  1. Soaking the beans

    Place the red beans in a large bowl, cover with cold water, add 1/4 c. à café baking soda and let soak for 6 hours (or overnight).

    Time: PT6H

  2. Drain and rinse

    After soaking, drain the beans in a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water.

    Time: PT5M

  3. First cooking of the beans

    Place the rinsed beans in a pot, add 650 ml water, 3 whole black peppercorns, 2 cloves and 1 bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 25 minutes.

    Time: PT25M

    Temperature: ébullition

  4. Final cooking of the beans

    Cover the pot, reduce heat to medium and continue cooking for an additional 40 minutes, adding a little water if needed, until the beans are tender.

    Time: PT40M

    Temperature: moyen

  5. Drain the cooked beans

    Once tender, drain the beans and set them aside in the empty pot.

    Time: PT5M

  6. Prepare the tadka (tempered spices)

    Heat 2 c. à soupe oil in a pan over medium heat. Add 3 c. à café mustard seeds and 3 c. à café cumin seeds, let sizzle for 1 minute.

    Time: PT2M

    Temperature: 180°C

  7. Sauté the aromatics

    Add the 3 green chilies (optional), the 2 crushed cardamom pods and the diced onions. Sauté for 5 minutes until the onions are translucent and lightly golden.

    Time: PT5M

  8. Add garlic and ginger

    Add the 2 crushed garlic cloves and grated ginger, cook for 1 minute while stirring.

    Time: PT1M

  9. Add the dry spices

    Sprinkle 1 c. à café mild chili powder, ½ c. à café ground cumin and 1 c. à café coriander powder. Stir for 30 seconds to release the aromas.

    Time: PT30S

  10. Add the tomatoes and fenugreek

    Pour in the 200 g crushed tomatoes, add 1 c. à café dried fenugreek leaves and salt. Mix well.

    Time: PT2M

  11. Simmer everything

    Add the cooked beans and 10 cl water. Bring to a gentle boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes over medium heat.

    Time: PT15M

    Temperature: moyen

  12. Finishing and serving

    Garnish with chopped fresh coriander, remove from heat and serve hot with basmati rice or naan bread.

    Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
250
Protein
10 g
Carbohydrates
45 g
Fat
5 g
Fiber
12 g

Dietary info: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free, low-calorie, low-fat, high-fiber

Allergens: mustard

Last updated: April 7, 2026

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Indian Red Beans

Recipe by Pankaj Sharma

A vegetarian dish with flavors from northern India, made with tender red beans simmered in a spicy tomato sauce, dried fenugreek and fresh coriander. Ideal for a comforting meal rich in plant protein.

MediumIndianServes 4

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
6h 11m
Prep
1h 31m
Cook
55m
Cleanup
8h 37m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$4.53
Total cost
$1.13
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Soaking the beans for 6 hours
  • Initial and final cooking of the beans until tender
  • Preparing the tadka (tempered spices) without burning the seeds
  • Final simmer with tomatoes and fenugreek

Safety Warnings

  • Watch out for hot oil splatters during the tadka.
  • Handle the pot with gloves or a sleeve to avoid burns.
  • Use oven mitts to remove the lid from the hot pot.

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