What makes a bowl of rajma relish-worthy? What gives it that oomph? It isn’t a single element, it’s a mélange of the enticing aroma, an appearance that gets you drooling and flavors that make you want to go back for seconds.
And this is exactly what we tried to find in our review of the best rajma masala brands. We tested seven easily available rajma masala brands in India and chose Roopak and Aachi as our Top Picks for the wonderful balance of flavors both provide.
Table of Contents
Rajma Masala Powder – Quick Glance
Our Review Factors
How did we review the rajma masala contenders? What were our parameters?
Flavors, potency, convenience, and the overall quality were the leading factors for this review.
1. Taste
Rajma curry is nothing but red kidney beans cooked in a tomato-onion gravy with ginger, garlic and a handful of whole spices. It’s the blend of spices and seasonings like coriander, cumin, garam masala, red chilli, and asafoetida with its pungency that makes the curry as hearty as it is.
A rajma masala will add the innate flavors that are identifiable via the aroma. We looked for a ready-to-use masala with bold, fresh flavors.
2. Aroma
The aroma of all contenders was gauged in two stages- in the pack, and while cooking. Does the intensity vary, how well does the aroma retain- were some questions we answered.
3. Potency
Do you need heaping tablespoons or just a fat pinch? How long would one pack last? Which contender proved to be the most economic in the long run?
4. Other Parameters
We also checked how the masala impacted the color of the curry. The price, packaging, shelf life, and ingredients were recorded and compared here.
Your search for the best kitchen king masala ends here.
Rajma Masala Powder – Review Process
To arrive at a fair conclusion, we began by boiling 500 grams of rajma with salt and bay leaves. Once done, these were equally divided into seven portions.
We cooked ginger, garlic, grated onions and tomato puree in a large batch and divided them in seven portions too. To this we added 1/2 Tbsp of the rajma masala and cooked with the paste for a few seconds before adding the boiled rajma and 100 ml water.
We then garnished it with coriander leaves. We tasted them multiple times with and without boiled rice.
Such small portions during the review ensure there is no wastage of food.
Rajma Masala Powder – Detailed Review
Our detailed experience with the seven contenders has been explained in the following section.
1. Roopak Rajma Masala – Mishry Top Pick
Our Experience
The aroma, appearance, and flavors, everything was incredible in Roopak rajma masala. The flavor this added to our curry was spot-on. The intensity of the whole masale was well-rounded and not overwhelming, at all. Moreover, the potency was excellent. We added just half a tablespoon which was enough. We got a warm woody aroma that was dominated by cinnamon and mace.
To add to the factors we liked, this rajma masala did not lend a deep brown hue, our curry had a natural tomato-like red appearance.
Product Details
This was the only contender that was packed in a bottle, not a pack. It holds 100 grams of the product and is priced at Rs 180/- with a shelf life of one year.
The main ingredients are Coriander, Black pepper, Cumin, Turmeric, Iodised Salt, Red chillies, Mango powder, Kachri, Cardamom seeds, Mace, Nutmeg, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves.
- Rich, balanced spice
- Authentic flavor
- Commendable potency
Making some rajma chawal? Relishing rajma with parathas? Take the meal up a notch with Roopak Rajma masala.
2. Aachi Rajma Masala – Mishry Top Pick
Our Experience
Aachi rajma masala produced a bowl of rajma curry that was super close to one made at home, from scratch. That said, this was as flavorsome as Roopak, our other Top Pick.
Most packaged masalas or meals are heavy on the heat from whole spices and have a tendency to create a burning sensation in the throat. Fortunately, that was not the case here. Aachi gave a well-seasoned bowl of rajma that showcased a desirable balance across ingredients. We’d say, no one element overpowered or overshadowed others. Just like Roopak, the potency was impressive here as well. We used the same quantity of masala for an equal portion of beans.
Product Details
This is packed in a carton that holds 50 grams. Priced at Rs 35/-, this has a shelf life of 12 months. The main ingredients of this masala are Red chilli powder (16%), Dry mango flakes, Coriander, Pomegranate seeds, Dry ginger, Cassia bark (Taj), Cloves, Dry garlic, Fennel, Cumin, Black pepper, Turmeric, Kasuri methi, Green cardamom, Black cardamom, Bay leaf, Star anise, Nutmeg and Mace, Salt.
- Excellent potency
- Pleasing aroma and hue
- Homestyle ingredients
- Thumbs up for the flavor
This is another option for rajma masala we recommend when you’re cooking at home.
3. Goldiee Rajma Masala
Our Experience
The aroma and appearance of Goldiee rajma masala was fairly decent. No major issues here. The flavor works too. However, it was slightly heavy on the heat from whole spices. The chilli kick was relatively bolder with a strong, lingering warming flavor from spices like clove, mace, and cardamom.
As pleasing as this was for the first few bites, after 6-7 bites, the flavor overwhelms the palette.
Only a miniscule quantity was needed, making this a potent, value-for-money pick.
Product Details
A carton holds 100 grams of the masala, priced at Rs 52/- with a shelf life of 12 months. This contains Red chilli, Turmeric, Coriander, Cumin, Kidney beans, Edible salt, Onion, Garlic, Dry ginger, Dry mango, Nutmeg, Clove, Mace, Cardamom.
- High potency
- We liked the aroma + appearance
- Close to authentic flavors
- Not as well rounded as our Top Picks.
If you prefer your gravies with a bold spice, a pronounced heat- this is the rajma masala for you.
4. Catch Rajma Masala
Our Experience
With an aroma led by the freshness of coriander and warmth of whole spices, this was a fairly tasty masala. The rajma masala by Catch had a balanced, wholesome flavor profile, but was comparatively a notch lower than our winners.
The potency was pretty good, not like we had to add a substantial portion. Another plus- Catch rajma masala has easier availability than other contenders we reviewed.
Product Details
The ingredients are Coriander whole, Chillies and capsicum whole, Ginger whole, Cumin whole, Dried mango slides, Cassia whole, Large cardamom whole, Pepper black whole, Bay leaves, Iodised salt, Cloves whole, Nutmeg whole, Long pepper, Pomegranate seeds, Mace whole, Cardamom while, Citric acid (INS330)
A 100-gram carton is priced at Rs 78/- with a 15-month shelf life.
5. Orika Rajma Masala
Our Experience
The whole point of using a masala is acquiring a rounded flavor without much effort.
One cannot really benefit from Orika rajma masala in this sense, as it is loaded with the robust minty, smoky flavor from black cardamom. This, in turn, puts the flavor profile of rajma curry out of proportion.
The aroma of this masala was led by notes of black cardamom and mace. It was woody, smoky, and quite robust.
Product Details
This comes in a ziplock pouch that contains 100 grams of the product. It is priced at Rs 72/- and has a shelf life of 12 months.
The main ingredients are Coriander, Cumin, Amchur, Anardana, Ginger, Black pepper, Black cardamom, Chilli, Iodised salt (9.5%), Bay leaf, Mace, Fenugreek, Black salt, Ajawain, Mint, Nutmeg, Clove, Rice bran oil.
6. Everest Rajma Masala
Our Experience
Like Orika rajma masala, this had a bold, noticeable aroma of black cardamom and coriander. The flavor that Everest rajma masala lent to our curry was balanced. That said, like its aroma, black cardamom had the strongest presence in its flavor too.
Product Details
With Coriander, Cumin, Cassia leaf, Dried mango, Pomegranate seed, Chilli, Dried ginger, Black pepper, Black cardamom, Iodised salt, Black salt, Fenugreek, Mint leaf and Nutmeg as the ingredients, this is packed in a carton.
This holds 100 grams and is priced at Rs 72/- with a shelf life of one year.
- Unbalanced flavor profile.
7. MDH Rajmah Masala
Our Experience
Though the flavor and aroma were fresh, the resultant dish was quite flat-tasting. It was nothing special, this was average. It lacked the depth of flavors we were looking for.
Dry mango and coriander were the most prominent in the aroma.
Product Details
Coriander seeds, Unripe dry mango, Iodised salt, Cumin, Red chillies, Kachri, Pomegranate seeds, Black salt, Seedless tamarind, Black pepper, Dried ginger, Cassia, Mint leaves, Fenugreek leaves, Cardamom amomum, Nutmeg, Cloves, Yellow chillies, Mace, Green cardamom, Bishop’s weed are the ingredients used.
The carton holds 100 grams and is priced at Rs 80/-. This has a shelf life of one year.
- No dimensions in flavor
Our Top Picks & Recommendations
Why did we choose Roopak and Aachi as our Top Pick?
For their freshness, the depth and balance of flavors, the aroma, and appearance, we titled Roopak and Aachi as our top, most-recommended rajma masala brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on best rajma masala.
1. Are these rajma masalas too spicy?
No, our top picks of rajma masala brands were well-rounded. Neither spice nor salt was overloaded.
2. Do these rajma masala brands use organic ingredients?
No such specification has been provided on the packs.
3. Are these rajma masalas gluten-free?
Yes, the rajma masalas are gluten-free as they do not contain any wheat based ingredient.
4. Can we use rajma masala for cooking other dishes as well?
Rajma masala can be used to prepare dishes like kali dal, dal makhni, and lobia etc.
5. What is the price range for rajma masala brands?
A 100-gram carton is priced anywhere between Rs 50 to Rs. 80.
Final Words
And that’s a wrap on our review of the best rajma masala brands in India. We reviewed seven contenders, and were pleasantly surprised when we found not one but TWO top picks. Roopak and Aachi both had a balanced, wholesome flavor, and drool-worthy aroma. The other contenders, while they aced one aspect, they fell short in another.
Whole, roasted spices, ground at home, or ready to add mixes- what do you usually use?
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.