Makhana Trail Mix, more popularly known as Makhana Namkeen is a protein rich, gluten free and healthy snack. It is very easy to make this snack at home and what I like best is that this recipe is versatile. One can mix and match any healthy snack ingredients.
What Is Makhana?
In brief, Makhana is the Hindi word for fox nut. Other names are Phool Makhana, Lotus seeds, Gorgon Nut and Euryale Ferox. In fact, the state of Bihar in India produces 90% of the world’s makhana production.
How Do These Lotus Seeds or Makhana Grow?
These protein rich seeds come from prickly water lily. They are grown in ponds or in water fields much like rice paddies. The prickly pods bear the seeds. Seeds left in the ponds from the previous harvest begin to germinate. Large prickly leaves cover the pond within a month or so. Flowerings begins around April – May. Naturally, the flowers stay on the surface for a few days and then submerge in the water.
Fruition
Thereafter, fruition begins. In fact, an average plant can bear 450-700 seeds. Eventually, the fruits burst open in the water and the seeds are released. Obviosuly, they float in the water. But only for a few days. After that they sink to the bottom of the pond or water field. To get to these seeds, the harvesters need to wade through the murky pond water, battling with the prickly leaves, stems and pods. Special reed baskets are used to collect the seeds.
Cleaning & Grading The Seeds
Undeniably, the Seeds collected are very dirty. Obviously, cleaning them in the water is a task. In fact, dead leaves, stems, mud, pond microorganisms all have to be removed. After that the seeds are graded. Afterwards, the seeds are allowed to dry in the sun till 30% of the water content evaporates.
Roasting & Cracking The Shell
Thereafter, the seeds are roasted in iron woks or earthen pots till more moisture evaporates. They have to be stirred continuously. The roasted seeds are then popped. Using wooden mallets the tough outer black shell is cracked to expose the white seeds. As popularity and consumption of makhana seeds increases world over, the process of roasting and popping is getting mechanized.
How Are Makhana Seeds Consumed?
In reality, the white seeds puffy seeds are pretty much tasteless. Definitely the seeds need to be roasted so that they become crunchy. Otherwise it tastes like stale popcorn, soft and chewy. As a matter of fact, makhana in the Indian cuisine is quite popular. It’s used as a snack, in curries and desserts. Not surprisingly, they are so popular as they are rich in protein, dietary fibre, calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. Clearly, it has many health benefits and is considered a super food. Indeed, I like making phirni. Check the link below and Makhana Kheer.
THANDAI MAKHANA PHIRNI
Thandai Makhana Phirni is a creamy, delish, cool Indian dessert that can be served during the Festival of Colour, Holi. Easy to make and light too.
Trail Mix is a snack which is prepared by mixing nuts, seeds,dried fruits and sometimes candy.
What Is Namkeen?
In brief, namkeen is the Hindi word for savoury snack. Makhana Namkeen is usually prepared using makhana, nuts, dried fruits and seeds.
Sharing This Recipe With 2024 Alphabet Challenge Group
At this time, we’ve reached halfway through the alphabet. And I am enjoying this challenge so much. In fact, so that I don’t miss out, I’ve scheduled my posts before travelling. This is one of them. Obviously, Letter M is pretty easy, so many dishes and ingredients. Mangoes is what comes to my mind first. I do miss the mangoes from India and Kenya. The Mexican ones I get here, are okay. Actually, I wanted to share Migas, Mexican breakfast dish but then hubby insisted I make some makhana snack. So Makhana it is and Migas will have to wait.
The Alphabet Challenge Journey So Far
AMARANTH PARATHA | RAJGIRA PARATHA
Amaranth Paratha is gluten free, vegan, soft, tasty and healthy flatbread. Pretty easy to make, it is a good way to include amaranth in your diet. Known as rajgira paratha in Hindi, these parathas can be enjoyed during fasting days like Ekadashi, Navratri, Ram Navmi, etc.
Beetroot Tomato Soup is a comforting, easy to make and healthy soup. With some warm spices, it is perfect for the cold season. With the weather so unpredictable at the moment, snow, rain, wind chills, storms, etc soups are so comforting and definitely warm up the body and soul.
Cranberry Achar or Cranberry Pickle is an easy to make, tangy, spicy, delicious pickle that comes together in a matter of a few minutes. However, you will have to wait for a few days before you can enjoy the pickle.Enjoy the pickle or achar with your parathas, rice dishes or add a bit to your sandwich. What I love about this pickle is the natural tanginess from the fresh cranberries.
Dangella | Tawa Handvo is a traditional Gujarati recipe where the handvo batter is cooked on a tawa instead of baking it. It is a Gujarati style savoury pancake. Above all, it is a delicious and healthy breakfast, tea time snack or a light dinner or lunch meal. The advantage of making Dangella or Tawa Handvo is that you can add a lot of vegetables.
Egg Pulao is a one pot, delicious, filling pilaf dish that is made with long grain rice, eggs and spices. It is a versatile recipe as one can choose to add vegetables and spices of their choice. We enjoy egg pulao as a meal on its own with some raita and papad on the side. However you can easily serve it with any curry your choice.
Turkish Fig Pudding also known as Incir Uyutmasi is an easy to make, delectable, melt in the mouth, luscious pudding that can be enjoyed for breakfast or as dessert. Basically you need only 2 main ingredients, dried figs and milk. This dessert is sugar free and excellent indulgence for diabetics.
Guacamole Salad is an easy to make, delicious, healthy salad that has all the components of guacamole. Enjoy it as a side dish with your Mexican food or as a light meal option. Best part is that you can customize this salad to your liking.
Panna Cotta With Hibiscus Berry Sauce is an exquisite, creamy dessert. The Hibiscus Berry Sauce adds a little tartness to the panna cotta. Easy to make and am sure it will be a show stopper at your next party.
Iceberg Wedge Salad is a delicious, healthy way to enjoy crisp and crunchy lettuce. The classic wedge salad has a topping of bacon crumbles, onion and tomatoes with a generous drizzle of blue cheese dressing. My version of the Iceberg Wedge Salad is different- a vegetarian one.
Jeera Bhaat | Jeera Rice is full of flavour, aromatic, easy to make, fluffy rice. It is usually served with dals or curries. Rice in Gujarati or Maharashtrian language is called Bhaat, while in Hindi it is chawal. Jeera is cumin, and thus a generous amount of cumin seeds are added along with other spices to make this popular rice dish.
Khamang Kakdi is an easy, delicious, cooling and refreshing Maharashtrian style cucumber salad or side dish. It is generally served as part of a thali meal. Also known as Kakdi Koshimbir, just a few ingredients put together results in a healthy and tasty side dish. Personally, I enjoy a whole bowlful of it on its own as a snack or light lunch. Khamang in Marathi means delicious, tasty and well balanced. Which undoubtedly this salad recipe is. Kakdi is cucumber.
Mediterranean Lentil Salad is a refreshingly delicious, protein rich, hearty salad that can be enjoyed as a light lunch. Perfect as a vegetarian meal, with summer round the corner, these are the kind of meals that are easy to prepare. Enjoy it as a garden party or picnic salad. Did you know that lentils are a good source of protein? One cup of cooked lentils provides 17.9g of protein.
Moong dal chilla is a savoury flatbread or thin pancake made from moong dal, herbs and simple spices. It's one of the easiest and healthy breakfast or brunch option. A versatile recipe, one can add vegetables and herbs of your choice. Also known as pudla or puda it is a popular Gujarati breakfast dish. It is usually served with green chutney, pickles or even tomato ketchup.
Mushroom Spinach Curry known as Dhingri Palak Sabji in Hindi is a delicious and easy to make curry. Dhingri in Hindi is mushrooms and palak is spinach. A great way to enjoy both mushrooms and spinach. Both are very nutritious and to make it healthy, go easy on the fresh cream and ghee. Serve the curry with naan, roti, paratha or rice.
Ugadela Math/ Sprouted Math Stir Fry is an easy to make, delicious way to prepare sprouted math or moth beans, Gujarati style. Math or Moth Beans look like moong beans but are pale yellow in colour.
Makki Di Roti is a traditional gluten free flatbread from the state of Punjab. It is made from simple ingredients namely, cornmeal, salt, water and oil. Some make the flatbread plain, others add carom seeds, fresh fenugreek leaves or grated radish.
Malagasy Lasopy is simply a pureed vegetable soup. It is usually served with a condiment called sakay and some baguette on the side. Any fresh seasonal vegetables and meat bones are all added in the pot with a generous amount of water. My recipe omits the meat bones.
Mushroom & Chestnut Stuffed Pasta Shells are a bit different from the usual cheese, spinach stuffed ones. With a stuffing of mushrooms, roasted chestnuts and a creamy sauce, this dish is ideal as a pasta dish for parties. The creamy luxurious sauce and the flavours of mushrooms and chestnuts makes this pasta dish a five star dish but served at home.
Vegetarian Mulligatawny Soup is a veggie version of the famous Mulligatawny Soup from the Indian Cuisine. Generally chicken or meat is added to this vegetable, lentil, curry powder soup. I've prepared a vegetarian version which is wholesome, nutritious, filling and so deliciously creamy. This soup is not spicy or hot but has subtle flavours of the curry powder used.
Methi Corn Malai or Methi Makai Malai is a a rich creamy curry or sabji made using fresh corn and fenugreek. Methi is fresh fenugreek and malai translates as cream. The rich creaminess of the curry base comes from the use of nut powder and fresh cream. This curry without onion or garlic is so flavourful.
Dal Tadka |Moong Dal is a comforting, healthy, protein rich and hearty lentil dish. Mostly enjoyed with rice or roti, it is an easy dal to make. Dal is lentils and tadka is tempering. After preparing the dal, a tempering or vaghar is added on top before serving. The added garlic and smokey flavour of red chilli powder enhances the overall flavour of this dish.
Restaurant style, vegetarian Mexican Style Rice, loaded with vegetables. Homemade is million times better as you can add a variety of veggies and its so flavourful.
Raspberry Mousse is so light, fluffy and easy to make. Super delicious, it is gelatin and agar agar free. Perfect gluten free dessert to enjoy and did I mention quick to put together.
Mango Strawberry Salad is a refreshing, delicious, colourful summer time salad. Easy to make, it can be served as a side dish or as a light meal. We enjoy this salad as a light lunch option as I add mozzarella which makes it filling. As for the dressing, add any of your choice.
Moong & Zucchini Pancakes are gluten free, nutritious and tasty. Made from whole green moong beans and zucchini, they are a healthy and filling breakfast option.
Mango Pico De Gallo is an easy to prepare, flavourful kind of salad or salsa. Enjoy with tortilla chips or your favourite Mexican dish. It is so easy to make Mango Pico De Gallo in bulk for picnics and pot lucks.
Maple Panna Cotta With Roasted Figs is a super creamy, silky, exquisite, easy to make dessert. The roasted fig adds so much flavour and texture to the overall dessert.
Bajri Methi Na Muthiya is a healthy and steamed Gujarati snack. Easy to make and delicious. Especially when stir fried with garlic and served with a drizzle of lemon juice.
Mushroom Masala/ Mushroom curry is an Indian style curry made with mushrooms, onion, tomatoes, spice mixture, herbs and a bit of cream or coconut milk. The flavorful, tasty and creamy curry is enjoyed with naan, paratha, roti or rice.
Ingredients Required For Makhana Trail Mix| Makhana Namkeen
Makhana
Makhana phool, makhana or fox nuts are sold in most Indian Stores and is now also available online on Amazon.
Almonds
Can leave them whole or chop them into halves.
Cashew Nuts
Leave them whole or chop them into halves.
Peanuts
Can use the ones with or without skin. I usually buy unsalted roasted peanuts and keep them in the fridge for various dishes.
Dried Fruit
For this recipe I have used raisins. Sometimes I add dried cranberries, blueberries or goji berries.
Curry Leaves
I love the flavour of curry leaves and add them to the mixture. This is optional ingredient.
Salt
Use salt of your choice, normal table salt, pink rock salt, sea salt, etc.
Pepper Powder Or Red Chilli Powder
Add some according to your choice.
Watch How To Make Makhana Trail Mix | Makhana Namkeen
MAKHANA TRAIL MIX |MAKHANA NAMKEEN
mayurisjikoni
Makhana Trail Mix, more popularly known as Makhana Namkeen is a protein rich and healthy snack. It is very easy to make this snack at home and what I like the best is that this recipe is versatile. One can mix and match any healthy snack ingredients.
Just in case we haven’t met before I’m Mayuri Patel from the coastal sunny town of Mombasa. In fact more of a global citizen now as I spend time between Canada and India. I’m the creator and writer of Mayuri’s Jikoni. Jikoni is kitchen in Kiswahili. Love cooking up a storm in my jikoni. When I’m not in the jikoni then you may find me reading fiction books, watching romantic movies, listening to Bollywood songs or enjoying God’s creation, nature. If my recipes can inspire you to cook at home then my job is done here. Cook up a storm in your kitchen with easy to follow vegetarian recipes right from soups to desserts.
I love learning about new ingredients! This looks so tempting; I keep debating whether to try to get my hands on a curry plant but they grow so slowly, it is expensive to find a good size one. I will have to content myself with my dried leaves for now. This is a great snack to share with my celiac friend!
Kelly, I too am not successful at growing a curry plant in Canada, as it definitely needs warm climate. Best to buy the fresh leaves from an Indian store and freeze them for full flavour. Or use dried leaves.
[…] Sago using the secret ingredients chili and ginger that I suggested. By the way, have you tried her Makhana Trail Mix? I love that simple and healthy […]
As a part of healthy eating whay we have avoided is having fried snacks. At this time, it is fabulous to get the recipe for these flavourful Makhana trail mix that satisfies the crispy cravings and takes care of the health also.
23 Comments
Wendy Klik
June 19, 2024 at 7:39 am
Thanks for the foodie lesson. I had never heard of Makhana nuts. Anxious to see if I can find them next time I visit the International Marketplace.
mayurisjikoni
June 19, 2024 at 7:52 am
Thanks Wendy, you’re most welcome. It’s easy to find them in all Indian Stores. Sometimes I get online from Amazon.
Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Fresh Mint
June 19, 2024 at 12:19 pm
[…] Makhana Trail Mix by Mayuri’s Jikoni […]
Stacy
June 19, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Warm spicy nuts are my favorite snack! Lovely combo, Mayuri.
mayurisjikoni
June 19, 2024 at 4:09 pm
Thank you so much Stacy.
hobby baker Kelly
June 19, 2024 at 12:57 pm
I love learning about new ingredients! This looks so tempting; I keep debating whether to try to get my hands on a curry plant but they grow so slowly, it is expensive to find a good size one. I will have to content myself with my dried leaves for now. This is a great snack to share with my celiac friend!
mayurisjikoni
June 19, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Kelly, I too am not successful at growing a curry plant in Canada, as it definitely needs warm climate. Best to buy the fresh leaves from an Indian store and freeze them for full flavour. Or use dried leaves.
Karen’s Kitchen Stories
June 19, 2024 at 1:57 pm
I’m going to have to check the Indian grocery stores nearby! This sounds delicious!
mayurisjikoni
June 19, 2024 at 3:53 pm
Thanks Karen,am sure you will enjoy it as a snack and also it is rich in so many minerals and vitamins.
Camilla M Mann
June 19, 2024 at 3:34 pm
I have had those, I just didn’t know what they were called. Thanks for the lesson.
mayurisjikoni
June 19, 2024 at 3:47 pm
You’re welcome Camilla. Now you know the name and how to prepare the easy snack at home.
Moringa Makhana Paratha – Magical Ingredients
June 19, 2024 at 10:28 pm
[…] Mayuri’s Jikoni: Makhana Trail Mix […]
Sneha Datar
June 20, 2024 at 5:44 am
A perfect healthy treat!
mayurisjikoni
June 23, 2024 at 11:57 am
Thanks.
Colleen – Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck
June 20, 2024 at 4:05 pm
I love almost all nuts…so I know that I would love this trail mix. I’ll be on the lookout for these!
mayurisjikoni
June 23, 2024 at 11:35 am
Thanks Colleen as I mentioned, fox nut tastes a bit like popcorn. Easily available online.
Radha
June 21, 2024 at 12:16 am
I am using more of makhana recently and this healthier version of trail mix sounds a perfect snack to me.
mayurisjikoni
June 23, 2024 at 11:31 am
Thanks Radha, we too use it as a protein rich snack.So easy to make and healthy too.
Chukauni – Magical Ingredients
June 27, 2024 at 8:28 pm
[…] Sago using the secret ingredients chili and ginger that I suggested. By the way, have you tried her Makhana Trail Mix? I love that simple and healthy […]
Lisa
June 29, 2024 at 10:19 am
I learned so much! I have not heard of these delicious sounding nuts. We love trail mix so I am hitting up the international market this weekend!
mayurisjikoni
June 29, 2024 at 11:26 am
Thanks Lisa. You’ve got to try these unusual fox nuts.
Seema Sriram
July 18, 2024 at 7:26 pm
As a part of healthy eating whay we have avoided is having fried snacks. At this time, it is fabulous to get the recipe for these flavourful Makhana trail mix that satisfies the crispy cravings and takes care of the health also.
mayurisjikoni
July 19, 2024 at 1:14 pm
Thank you so much Seema, am so happy that you’ve found this recipe useful.