Makhane Ki Kheer / Fox Nuts Seeds Pudding

Makhana /Phool Makhana commonly known as lotus seeds or Fox nut (Gorgon nuts) seeds belong to the Lily family which are generally cultivated in low land areas of India , China and Japan for their starchy white seeds which are edible. Lotus seeds are rich in calcium and protein.They regulate blood pressure , have rich anti oxidant properties and benefit spleen kidney and heart.

Source : http://manjumakhana.com/benefits_Fox_nut.php

Makhana are very popular in North India and are generally used as fasting food ( food for vrat) during Navratri fasting. My family loves Makhana and i generally make roasted makhana or Caramelized Makhana ( Meethe Makhane) as tea time snacks. Today i will share a creamy and rich pudding recipe made from this lotus seeds.

Makhane Ki Kheer is basically a sweet pudding in which lotus seeds roasted in little ghee are added to sweetened reduced milk. Makhane ki kheer has a rich creamy texture and is very delicious. A very simple and easy preparation that can be made under 15 minutes and tastes great both hot or chilled. This kheer can be had as a fasting food ( food for vrat or upvas) and is generally served as naivedhyam ( offering to God) to lord Krishna on Janmashtami ( a festival which celebrates birth of lord Krishna).

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Makahan / Fox nut seeds
• 500 ml full cream milk
• 5 tbsp of sugar (or as per taste)
• Few strands of Saffron / Kesar
• 5-7 Cashew nuts
• 2-3 tbsp Raisins
• 2-3 tsp sliced Pistachios for garnishing
• 1/4 tsp Cardamom and Nutmeg powder (Sweet Masala)
• 2 tsp Ghee /clarified butter

Method:

1. In a non stick wok heat 2 tsp of ghee and fry the cashews in it until they turn golden brown. Remove them and keep aside. 

 2.  Now add the raisins and fry them for a while. Remove them and keep aside.

  3.  Add the fox nuts to the same remaining ghee . Roast the fox nuts for 2-3 minutes on a low to medium flame. Keep stirring. The makhana will become crunchy . Remove them in a plate and allow them to cool down . Add the saffron strands to 2 tbsp of warm milk.

  4.  Add 500 ml of milk to the wok on a medium flame. Let it come to a boil. Lower the flame and cook the milk for 5-7 minutes on low flame . Keep stirring the milk occasionally to ensure it does not stick to the bottom. 

  5. Add sugar to the milk and stir well. Allow the milk to cook for another 1-2 minutes. 

  6.  Add the saffron milk to it.

  7.  Crush few roasted makhana either with hand or in a grinder . Add both the crushed  and whole makhana to the sweetened reduced milk.

  8.  Add the fried raisins and cashews.  Mix well and cook the kheer for 1-2 minutes. Add the Sweet Masala( Cardamom and nutmeg powder) and put off the flame.

  9.  Garnish the makhana kheer with sliced pistachios . Serve hot or cold and enjoy the creamy delicious Mahana Kheer with your loved ones !

I hope you would love to try out this easy Makhane Ki Kheer . Do not forget to give your valuable feed back.

For more kheer recipes , do check my posts on

• Daliya ki Kheer / Broken wheat sweet pudding
• Kesar Phirni
• Lauki Ki Kheer
• Suji Ki Kheer
• Gulab Ki Kheer
• Sheer Khurma