In this world of junk snacks and packaged food, every health-conscious parent must have come across the word “good makhana” as a healthy snack option for babies and kids! While the name might seem alien, it is readily available in stores and is very easy to prepare and store.
To help you navigate the questions and doubts about makhana, we have come up with a few easy-to-make homemade recipes and the potential benefits of makhana, to help you get started with nutritious snacks for your little ones!
What is Makhana?
Makhana, also known as phool makhana, refers to Fox nuts (Euryale feroxis) that are obtained from the Euryale Fox plant. It is a highly nutritious and versatile food option for babies, kids, and adults alike! It is widely known for its health benefits and can be introduced to babies as they get acquainted with rice and other cereals. It is also a preferred snack option during fasting.
Most makhana recipes begin with the primary step of roasting these fox nuts! It can then be easily made into simple homemade delectable recipes! Without further ado, let us dive into the details of how to make makhana a favourite snack option for your little ones and the whole family!
How to Roast Makhana?
Makhanas need to be warm and toasty to bring out their unique taste and crunchy goodness! While this is a first step for many other meal preparations, roasted makhana, on its own, can serve as a delightful healthy snack for kids. Let’s understand the right way to roast makhana and then head on to further yummy recipes!
Nutritious And Delectable Makhana Recipes
To start with, let’s learn how to get those toasty crunchy makhanas, that you can give your older kids as a snack anytime or store and use for other age-appropriate baby recipes!
Roasted Phool Makhana Recipe
Ingredients:
- Fox nuts (phool makhana) – 2 cups
- Clarified butter (ghee) -3 teaspoons
- Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoons
- Black pepper powder – ¼ teaspoons
- Red chilli powder (optional) – ¼ teaspoon
- Salt – as per preference
Preparation:
- Heat and melt 2 teaspoons of ghee in a flat-bottomed pan.
- Measure 2 cups of phool makhana and add to the warm ghee.
- Stir around the makhana and toss the pan to roast the makhana.
- Continue roasting till the smell evaporates and they turn a gentle golden brown.
- Once these become toasted and crispy, add one more teaspoon of ghee.
- Add in the salt and the spice powders.
- Switch off the flame and keep stirring to coat the makhans in the spices well.
- Taste and adjust salt and other spice levels as per your preference.
- Add in some jaggery if you want to have a sweet aftertaste!
- You can then serve these warm and toasty or let them cool down to room temperature and store them in an air-tight container.
Now that you have a batch of roasted makhanas ready with you, let’s see how you can use those for other scrumptious recipes!
Makhana Cereal
If your baby has just started solids, this is a great option to try! Not only is it easy and quick to prepare but you can also top it off with your baby’s favourite fruits and vegetable purees.
Ingredients:
- Roasted makhana (non-spiced) – 1 cup
- Water – 1 cup
Preparation:
- Take some non-spiced roasted makhana and grind those to a smooth powder.
- Sieve the powdered makhana to make sure there are no bits and pieces left.
- Take about 30-40 grams of the powder aside and store the remaining in an airtight container.
- Take a cup of water and bring it to a boil.
- Once the water starts simmering, add the roasted makhana powder while stirring continuously.
- Continue to stir for 5-7 minutes or just till about the mix starts thickening in consistency.
- Ensure it is mixed evenly without any lumps or pieces.
- You can now let this makhana cereal cool down a bit and serve it lukewarm to your baby.
- You can also add jaggery, cumin powder, or salt, as per your baby’s taste preferences.
Makhana Porridge (Kheer)
This is another simple recipe which can be given to toddlers and babies older than a year. It adds that protein boost from both, makhana and milk!
Ingredients:
- Roasted makhana – 1 cup
- Milk – 2 cups
- Jaggery powder – 1 teaspoon
- Cardamom powder – ½ teaspoon
- Dry fruit powder – 1 teaspoon
Preparation:
- Blend the roasted makhanas to a fine powder.
- Heat milk in a heavy-bottom pan.
- Once the milk comes to a boil, you can gradually add 2-3 tablespoons of the roasted makhana powder while stirring constantly. Make sure there are no lumps.
- Add in the jaggery and cardamom powder.
- Mix everything well and cover the lid of the pan.
- Let the mix simmer on low heat for about 5-7 minutes so it gets evenly cooked.
- Keep checking and stirring in between for the right consistency.
- As the mixture thickens, you can add some water to adjust the consistency as per your preference.
- You can then add the dry fruit powder and give a thorough mix.
- Cook the porridge for 2-3 minutes more.
- When you reach the desired texture and taste, turn the stove off.
- Serve it lukewarm with a topping of dry fruit powder or some pumpkin and sesame seeds for older kids.
Just like introducing any new food, make sure the preparation of makhana is age-appropriate for your child. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure to roast the makhana on low flame well enough till they become crunchy and odourless.
- Take a bite of one roasted makhana to check if it is crunchy and well-toasted.
- Skip salt and spices for small babies.
- Cut the roasted makhana into small pieces to avoid choking.
- For older children, adjust spices according to their preference.
- After the first feed, give a gap of 2-3 days to rule out any intolerance or allergies.
Now that you are equipped with the recipes of makhanas, let us further encourage you to make these by enlightening you with the benefits of makhana.
What Are the Benefits of Makhana?
- A good source of protein, makhana can help build muscles in growing kids.
- Makhana is gluten-free and hence there is less chance of any allergies or intolerance.
- High in antioxidants, makhana helps maintain good health and keep infections at bay!
- The high fibre content in makhana helps prevent constipation in babies and toddlers.
- Makhana is enriched with calcium, which helps strengthen the bones and teeth of growing babies and kids.
- With one small cup of makhana amounting to 106 kcal, it helps meet your kid’s energy requirements.
- Makhanas have low sodium content, unlike all other junk snack options.
Toasted makhana and its recipes make for delicious and healthy go-to snacks for babies and older kids alike. A good source of protein, calcium, potassium, iron and vital minerals, makhana helps in the healthy growth and development of your child! We hope you try the above recipes to include this healthy snack option in your baby’s regular meals!
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