Ingredient Ideology | The Makhana Trivia By: Dr. Kaviraj Khialani – Celebrity Master Chef.
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Makhana also known as lotus seeds or fox nuts are one of the nutritionally high ingredients with versatile uses and benefits to assist us in our daily cooking with recipes in various categories and forms. With the growing awareness of this ingredient over the years it is important that we are updated with the reasons of why to include them in our diets as well. While some say they are tasteless and some seem confused on how to make it interesting on the dinner table to get compliments we do have a choice of recipes below for all to try and enjoy the flavors of makhana!
Let us have a look at a few Health Benefits of Makhana:
1. Makhana is good for weight loss and management.
2. Makhana should be consumed since it provides energy and is also good for bone health.
3. Makhana is also considered good for heart and kidney health along with able to manage blood pressure issues too.
4. Makhana also has benefits of being a good anti-oxidant, reduces fatigue and also reduced palpitations.
5. Makhana is a low glycemic index ingredient hence making it a good choice to come by into our recipes.
Culinary Uses of Makhana:
1. makhana as a lightly roasted snack from plain salted, to kali mirch and the masala spice mixes are all a perfect munch option to sit back and enjoy when in between meals and to manage hunger pangs.
2. A makhana mattar ki subzi with a base of onion-tomato masala with mild powdered spices, a little green peas and fresh coriander leaves is great to enjoy with hot phulkas and rotis.
3. For a no onion-no garlic option of preparing makhanas go for a tomato base gravy with little cashew and cream and add capsicums and paneer along with it to bring out the flavor.
4. Makhane aur anar ka raita, a welcome bowl of chilled raita concept with toasted makhanas and pomegranate seeds with a little roasted crushed jeera, kala namak and mint leaves is just too good!
5. Korma gravy with a base of onion paste, curd, poppy seeds, cashew or charmagaz, coconut and mildly spiced and laced onto makhanas with a few choice of colorful crunchy veggies is a great option too for a variety to enjoy makhanas.
6. Soya bean keema ka dum pulao with makhanas is simply a treat to the eyes and the palate! I love the pulao to be steaming hot and topped with crunchy fried makhanas tossed with spices in a little ghee added just before serving!
7. Sweets and desserts also go well with makhanas my favorites however are the classic makhane ki kheer, makhane aur khajoor ka Pannacotta, Gulkhand makhana mousse, makhane ki rabdi and makhana masti pancakes.
Here are a few recipes with Makhana for all to try out and relish
Recipe-1] KAJU MAKHANE KA MILAAP
Ingredients:
Makhanas/fox nuts- 2 cups fried/lightly roasted.
Oil/ghee- 2 tbsp.
Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
Ginger-garlic chili paste- 1 tsp
Boiled onion paste-1/2 cup
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Garam masala powder-1/4 tsp
Red chili powder-1/4 tsp
Curd-1/2 cup mixed with 2 tsp cashew paste
Coconut milk-1/2 cup
Fresh cream-2-3 tbsp.
Water-1/2 cup
Paneer cubes-1/2 cup
Capsicum cubes-1/2 cup
Salt to taste
Kasuri methi-1 tsp
Coriander leaves-2 tbsp.
Fried cashews and raisins-2 tbsp. for garnish
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe as per the list.
2. Heat oil and ghee and add in the cumin seeds, ginger garlic and chili paste and onion paste, cook for 2-3 mins, add little water as needed.
3.Add in the curd and cashew mixture all spices, methi, salt to taste and bhunao well for 1 min, add in little water for the gravy, simmer for 3-4 mins.
4. Add in the coconut milk and cream and blend it all in well, simmer for 2 mins finally add in the paneer cubes, capsicum cubes and fried makhana into the gravy and bring to a nice boil, check for seasonings.
5. Serve hot garnished with fried onions/nuts/coriander leaves/cream etc along with hot phulkas, rotis, naans.
Recipe-2] METHI SAAGWALA MAKHANA
Ingredients:
Makhana- 2 cups fried/roasted
Oil/ghee-2 tsp
Ginger-1 tsp chop
Garlic-1 tsp chop
Green chili- 2-3 chopped
Fresh methi- 1 cup
Fresh coriander leaves- 2 cups
Tomatoes- 2-3 grated or fresh puree
Salt to taste
Hing- 1 pinch
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Red chili powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder- 1 tsp
Cumin powder-1/4 tsp
Soya chunks-1/2 cup soaked in warm water for 15 mins.
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe.
2. Heat oil/ghee and add in the hing, ginger, garlic, chilies and saute.
3. Add in the tomatoes, salt, methi and coriander and all powdered spices and mix well, add a little water.
4. Now add in the drained soya chunks and bhunao with the masala for 1 min, cover and simmer for 8-10 mins.
5. Finally add in the makhanas and mix well, simmer for 3-4 mins and serve hot with rotis, phulkas and a bowl of raita.
Recipe-3] SUBZ MAKHANA KORMA
Ingredients:
Makhanas/fox nuts-1 cup fried
Assorted veggies- carrots/beans/cauliflower/ peas/ potatoes [ all veggies to be pre-cooked or boiled/blanched]
Oil-2 tsp
Ghee-2 tsp
Shahi jeera-1 tsp
Bayleaf-2 no
Curd -1/4 cup mixed with 2 tsp fresh cream.
Kasuri methi-1 tsp
Salt to taste
Garam masala powder-1/4 tsp
Water-1/4 cup
Rose water-1 tsp.
Fried nuts and onions- for garnish.
For the Masala paste:
Boiled onion paste-1 cup
Garlic-1 tsp chop
Ginger-1 tsp chop
Desiccated coconut-2 tbsp.
Cashews-8-10
Water-1/2 cup
Green cardamom-2-3
Cinnamon-1-inch piece
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe.
2. Heat oil and ghee in a pan add in the shahi jeera and Bayleaf, add in the prepared masala paste and cook on a medium flame for 3-4 mins.
3. Add in little water, curd and cream mixture, kasuri methi, salt to taste and the assorted veggies of your choice.
4. Simmer and cook the veggies in the gravy add in the fried makhanas, garam masala powder and simmer for 2 mins, check for seasoning.
5. Serve hot garnished with fried nuts, onions, a little rose water and saffron etc.
Recipe- 4] MAKHANA TAVA PULAO
Ingredients:
Makhanas-1 cup fried/roasted
Cooked basmati rice- 1 cup
Oil-1 tsp
Butter-1 tsp
Jeera-1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
Curry leaves—4-5
Slit green chilies- 2 no
Ginger- garlic paste- 1 tsp
Chopped onions- 1 small
Chopped tomatoes-2 small
Carrots/beans/peas/cauliflower/capsicums- as desired to be cut into small pieces, boiled or blanched except capsicums.
Pao bhaji masala-2 tsp
Red chili powder-1/2 tsp
Water-1/4 cup
Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp.
Mint leaves- 2 tsp.
Cheese-2 tbsp.
Salt to taste
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the tava pulao recipe.
2. Heat oil and butter in a pan add in the ingredients for tempering and onions and saute until light brown, add in tomatoes and salt and powdered spices mix well add little water and cook for 2-3 mins.
3.Add in the assorted veggies of your choice and bhunao with the masala and cook for 3-4 mins.
4. Now add in the cooked rice and mix well add little cheese and coriander leaves and toss. Finally add in the makhanas and mix well serve hot with a bowl of raita/curd along with pickle and papad.
Recipe-5] MAKHANE KA DILKHUSH MEETHA
Ingredients:
Makhanas/fox nuts- 1 cup lightly roasted
Milk-3 cups
Green cardamom- 2 no
Sugar- to taste
Condensed milk- 2-3 tbsp.
Mava-2 tbsp. grated
Chopped assorted nuts- 2-3 tbsp.
Dates-2-3 chopped
Charoli-2 tsp lightly toasted or fried
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the sweet dish.
2. Using a thick bottomed pan boil the milk add cardamom, sugar, condensed milk and mava and stir constantly and reduce the mixture for 30 mins.
3. Add in few chopped dates, few nuts and Charoli and simmer for 4-5 mins, now add in the makhanas and mix well cook them in the milk mixture for 6-8 mins and serve chilled garnished with nuts-dates etc.
4. As an option also try using seasonal fruits like cubes of mangoes etc when we serve the sweet chilled it adds more taste, flavor and nutritive value as well into the dessert.
