Roasted makhana recipe – makhana or phool makhana or lotus seeds is an ingredient I have seen often living in India. I have had makhana kheer before and also had the roasted makhana many times. We also make sabzi with makhana.
I have also seen makhana being served as prashad. If you have tasted the makhana with prashad then they are soft. But when you roast them, they become crisp and crunchy like popcorn. But I must say that they are much healthier option than popcorn.
In India, apart from roasting the makhana, there are many recipes where makhana is added. Few such Makhana recipes shared on blog are –
Makhana Is rich in calcium, protein, carbohydrates, phosphorous, iron, thiamine and zinc. Makhana have a neutral taste. You can spice it up the way you want. Just roast them and when they are cool, store in an air-tight container. Anytime you want a light and nutritious snack, just have the roasted makhana.
We generally use makhana during fasting as it makes for a good vrat or fasting food. Its light on the stomach and nutritious too. In the below pic are the unroasted makhana and straight from the jar.
If you want to know more about makhana or phool makhana – it also known as fox nut or Eurayle ferox. basically a floating water lily plant native to eastern asia. The plant grows in water. The plant’s white seeds are edible. The plant is cultivated for its seeds in India, china and japan. In china the plant has been cultivated for 3000 years and the seeds are used in traditional Chinese medicine. as makhana is harvested in stagnant wetlands, no fertilizers or pesticides are used in the entire cultivation. Thus making these naturally organic. Source – Wikipedia
These roasted makhana or foxnuts make for a good in between lunch snacks or evening snack. They can be had with tea or coffee in the evenings. I always spice them up with Indian spices. I still have to try adding other spices or herbs. What to do, we love our chaat masala and they way it perks up everything that it is added to, including these roasted makhana.
If you are looking for more Fasting recipes then do check:
Please be sure to rate this recipe in the recipe card below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.
Roasted Makhana Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cup foxnuts or lotus seeds (makhana or phool makhana)
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder or add as required
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala powder or add as required
- rock salt (edible and food grade) as required
- 2 to 3 teaspoon oil or ghee
Instructions
making roasted makhana recipe
- Heat oil in a pan or kadai.
- Add the makhana and roast for a good 10 to 12 minutes on low heat, till they become crisp. Keep on stirring in between.
- Next, add all the spice powders and rock salt, except chaat masala.
- Switch off the heat as you don't want the spice powders to get burnt.
- Stir the whole mixture well.
- Lastly, sprinkle the chaat masala powder and again mix well.
- Serve Roasted Makhana straightaway.
- Or once they cool down, store Roasted Makhana in an air-tight container.
Hi, I had it in my mind to make crispy yummy fox nuts for a while and then I came across your recipe. They have come out so well that I can’t help but keep snacking on them all the time. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Welcome and thanks for sharing your experience and feedback. These are so good and addictive as well.
Hello ma’m,
Though I had heard about makhana and it’s usage in various recipes, I had personally never bought it. This week I bought a packet of Phool Makhana and it says ‘puffed lotus seeds’. Does it mean that I need not roast it and can eat it straight from the packet? Or do I still go ahead and roast it as per your recipe? Sorry, this is new to me, therefore I’m asking such a simple question.
hi rashmi, you will have to roast the phool makhana. what is available in the market is puffed makhana. makhana is always puffed and then sold. if you taste it will have a chewy texture – which means you have to roast them. in indian markets roasted makhana with different flavors is also available and it is mentioned on the pack that is roasted. no problem, you can ask any query. we all learn.