Rajma is one of the most popular vegetarian dishes of North India. It consists of red kidney beans which are stewed in a rich gravy combined with numerous spices. The dish is usually prepared for festivities and special occasions, when it is typically served alongside rice and breads such as roti.

Although closely associated with North India, where it is a staple food, red kidney bean was actually brought to the country from central Mexico and Guatemala, but the Mexican version of the dish is much different than the Indian one. Hearty and nutritious, rajma remains one of the most loved vegetarian curries in Punjab and North India.

This simple Indian dish consists of red beans (rajma) and cooked rice (chawal). Rajma is traditionally made with onions and tomato purée which acts as a gravy for the red beans. This dish makes for a complete vegetarian meal that is suitable for lunch or dinner.

If desired, rajma chawal can be flavored with a variety of spices such as chili peppers, cinnamon, bay leaves, ginger, garlic, coriander, and cumin. Although the dish is quite simple to prepare, it takes some time because the beans are typically soaked overnight before the preparation.

Rogan josh is an aromatic lamb curry that is believed to be of Persian origin, although today it is more closely associated with the Kashmir region of India. The stew is characterized by tender meat and a thick, fiery red sauce coming from deseeded Kashmiri chillies.

Lamb pieces are typically stewed in a gravy made with browned onions, garlic, yogurt, ginger, and aromatic herbs and spices. The name of the dish is derived from two words: rogan, meaning clarified butter or oil, and josh, referring to passion or heat.