I have always loved one pot dishes. They are easy, time saving and nothing goes to waste. Everything goes in together and comes out perfect every single time.
But more than that — my kids love them. One pot meals are easy for them to eat, easy for me to make, and I can pack in all the proteins they need without any fuss.
That’s how this One Pot Rajma Rice was born in my kitchen. Protein rich rajma, fragrant basmati rice, whole spices, freshly crushed ginger garlic and green chilli — all cooked together in one pressure cooker. Done in 2 whistles.
Serve with simple raita or any raitha of your choice. That’s it. That’s the whole meal. 🤍
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Rajma Rice
🍚 One pot one cooker — minimal vessels minimal effort.
💪 Protein packed — rajma is one of the best proteins. Perfect for kids and adults alike.
🧄 Lots of garlic — the way it should be! Ginger garlic and green chilli freshly crushed for the best flavour.
💡 Soaked rice water used for cooking — this is the secret to flavourful fluffy rice every single time.
🕐 Ready in 2 whistles — fastest flavourful meal you’ll ever make.
🥣 Goes with anything — simple raita, boondi raita, plain curd or any raitha of your choice.
How to Make One Pot Rajma Rice
Start by washing the basmati rice and soaking it for at least 20-30 minutes. Don’t throw away the soaking water — use it for cooking. It keeps the flavour and the starch of the rice intact and gives you fluffier more flavourful rice every single time.
Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add your whole spices — cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf and jeera. Let them splutter and release their fragrance.
Add the sliced onions and fry really well until they change colour. Now add the freshly crushed ginger, garlic and green chilli. Here’s an important tip — always add a teaspoon of water after adding the ginger garlic and green chilli. The water helps cook the raw smell away completely and prevents burning.
Add the sliced tomato. Then add the spice powders — red chilli powder, garam masala, turmeric and jeera powder. Again add a little water so the spices don’t get burnt. Fry everything really well until the masalas are cooked properly and oil separates.
Now add the boiled rajma. Add the soaked rice along with its soaking water. For 1.5 cups of rice use 2.25 cups of water total — including the soaking water.
Close the cooker and cook for 2 whistles. Open and fluff gently.
Fluffy, fragrant, protein packed One Pot Rajma Rice is ready! 🍚🤍
One Pot Rajma Rice | Pressure Cooker Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash and soak basmati rice for 20-30 minutes. Keep the soaking water aside.
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf and jeera. Let them splutter.
- Add sliced onions. Fry well until colour changes.
- Add crushed ginger, garlic and green chilli. Add a teaspoon of water and sauté till raw smell goes.
- Add sliced tomato. Mix well.
- Add red chilli powder, garam masala, turmeric and jeera powder and crushed kasuri methi . Add a little water so spices don't burn. Fry till masalas are cooked and oil separates.
- Add boiled rajma. Mix well.
- Add soaked rice with its soaking water. Add remaining water to make 2.25 cups total.
- Add salt. Close cooker and cook for 2 whistles.
- Open and fluff gently. Serve with raita or curd.
Video
Notes
Always use the rice soaking water for cooking — gives flavourful fluffy rice.
Add a tsp of water after ginger garlic to remove raw smell.
Add water when adding spice powders to prevent burning.
2 whistles is perfect for soaked basmati rice.
Use freshly crushed ginger garlic green chilli — not paste.
Adjust garlic quantity to your preference — I use lots! 😄
Pro Tips for Perfect One Pot Rajma Rice
- Always soak the rice and use the soaking water for cooking — this is the secret to flavourful fluffy rice.
- Add a teaspoon of water after adding ginger garlic green chilli — this removes the raw smell completely and prevents burning.
- Add water when adding spice powders too — spices burn very quickly and water saves them.
- Fry the masalas really well until oil separates — this is how you know the base is perfectly cooked.
- Use freshly crushed ginger garlic green chilli — not paste. The flavour is completely different and so much better.
- I use lots of garlic — adjust to your preference but don’t be shy with it! 😄
- 2 whistles is perfect for soaked basmati rice — don’t overcook or the rice will get mushy.
What to Serve With One Pot Rajma Rice
This rice is a complete meal on its own but it tastes even better with:
- Simple onion raita 🥣
- Boondi raita
- Plain cold curd
- Any raitha of your choice
The cooling curd or raita balances the warmth of the spices beautifully. That’s how I always serve it at home. 🤍
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use canned rajma instead of boiling it fresh?
Yes! Canned rajma works fine — just drain and rinse before adding. But freshly boiled rajma gives better texture and flavour.
Can I make this without a pressure cooker?
Yes — use a heavy bottom pot with a tight lid. Cook on low flame for about 20-25 minutes until rice is fully cooked. Keep checking and add water if needed.
What is the water ratio for basmati rice in pressure cooker?
For 1.5 cups of soaked basmati rice use 2.25 cups of water total. This includes the soaking water. 2 whistles on medium flame gives perfect fluffy rice.
Can I add more vegetables to this?
Absolutely! You can add diced carrots, peas or capsicum along with the tomato. It makes it even more nutritious and colourful.
Can I skip the whole spices?
The whole spices — cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf — are what give this rice its beautiful fragrance. Skipping them will change the flavour significantly. I highly recommend keeping them in!
A Note From My Kitchen 🤍
One pot dishes have always been my favourite. Not just because they are easy — but because everything cooks together and the flavours blend in a way that separate dishes never can.
And when my kids finish their plates without being asked — that’s the best review any recipe can get. 😄🤍
I hope this One Pot Rajma Rice becomes a regular in your kitchen too. Make it on a busy weekday, a lazy Sunday, or whenever you want something warm, filling and deeply satisfying.
One pot. One cooker. One happy family. 🤍
Tried This Recipe?
Leave a comment below — did you serve it with raita or plain curd? 😄🤍
For more everyday recipes visit us at homebites365.in
Follow us on Instagram @homebites.365 — new recipe every single day!
Have a question? Write to us at homebites365@gmail.com 🙏
