Makhana Chaat Recipe / Roasted Fox Nuts in Yogurt Sauce

                             

Makhana Chaat, a healthy and delicious chaat recipe, is one of the best ways to include the nutrient dense Fox Nuts into our daily diet. It serves as a great tea-time snack.  A simple yet flavorful chaat dish that can be put together in a jiffy, if you have chat chutneys ready at hand. Roasted phool makhana (Fox Nuts) are tossed in creamy yogurt sauce and served with a drizzle of lip-smacking tamarind jaggery chutney and the green chutney and some spice powders. Phool Makhana chaat is mildly sweet, a bit tangy and spicy in taste. The recipe is gluten-free and Satvik (onion-garlic free).        

                

What is a Chaat?

A chaat is a tongue-tickling snack, and a popular Indian street food. Chaat originated in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, however, it gained popularity in the rest of the Indian Subcontinent. The word chaat means to lick in Hind language. So basically a chaat is a preparation which is finger-licking good.  The delicious Dates and Tamarind Chutney and the Spicy green chutney along with some spice powders contribute to the spicy tangy and sweet flavors of a chaat. I usually keep these chutneys handy in my refrigerator. If you do no have them in stock, I would suggest you make them a day ahead before you intent to make the chat, to save time.

                

Makhana / Fox Nuts:

Makhana / Phool Makhana commonly known as lotus seeds or Fox Nuts 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.

I have been using Makhana in my kitchen regularly from last 6 years. My family loves the ghee roasted Makhana as a mid-day snack. We can make a variety of dishes ranging from desserts to savories to main course curries using makhana. Check out the following recipe links from this blog if you are looking for more ways to add the healthy goodness of makhana in to your daily diet.

• Falahari Makhana Chivda - a healthy Fox Nuts snack recipe that makes for a wonderful fasting food as well.
  
• Makhane ki Kheer - Fox Nuts Pudding
  
• Khoya Matar Makhana : A delicious and creamy North Indian curry with fox nuts, green peas and milk solids.
  
• Makhana Raita: Puffed Lotus Seeds raita
  
• Caramelized Fox Nuts / Meethe Makhane
  

               

Video Recipe for Makhana Chaat

                       

Dietary Notes: This Makhana chaat recipe is

• Healthy Snack
• Gluten-free
• Kid friendly
• Satvik / Jain recipe / Onion-garlic free
• Quick and easy to make

Related Event: A to Z Recipe challenge group with Alphabet "Y"

This healthy and delicious Makhana Chaat is featured in the A to Z recipe challenge group on Facebook where i post every month with a key ingredient having particular alphabet. Going by the alphabetical order , for the month of May we had to cook a dish starting with Alphabet "Y". I chose yogurt as my key ingredient and this Makhana chaat (Fox Nuts in Yogurt Sauce) is my humble contribution towards the theme. This A to Z recipe challenge is very close to my heart and it is difficult to accept the fact that this challenge is nearing towards its end with just one last key ingredient left in the series. You may want to look at my other contributions in this series.

• Watermelon Rind Curry for Alphabet "W"
  
• Vermicelli Salad for Alphabet "V"
• Unsalted Peanut Cookies for Alphabet "U"
• Turmeric Root Chutney for Alphabet "T"
• Pearl Millet / Bajra Crackers with Sesame Seeds for Alphabet "S"
• Khao Pad / Vegetarian Thai Fried Rice for Alphabet "R"
• Mexican One-pot Quinoa for Alphabet "Q"
• Potato Cheese Sandwich for Alphabet " P"
• Bhindi Do Pyaza / Okra stir-fry with onions for alphabet "O"
• Baked Nigella seed Crackers for Alphabet "N"
• Kadai Mushroom for Alphabet "M"
• Lemon Crinkle Cookies for Alphabet "L"
• Minestrone Soup with Kidney Beans for Alphabet "M"
• Aliv Kheer / Garden Cress seeds Jaggery pudding for Alphabet "J"
• Ivy Gourd Stir-fry for Alphabet "I"
• Horse Gram Idli for Alphabet "H"
• Punjabi Kadhi Pakora / Gram Flour fritters in Yogurt Gravy for Alphabet "G"
• Ankurit Methichi Usal / Sprouted fenugreek Seed Stir-fry for Alphabet "F"
• Achari Baigan / Eggplant in Pickling Spices for Alphabet "E"
• Dates and Walnut Muffins for Alphabet  "D"
• Coconut Curry leaves Chutney for Alphabet "C"
• Broccoli Paneer Paratha for alphabet "B"

                               

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients : Measurement used : 1 cup = 250 ml

• 1 cup Makhana / Fox Nuts
• 1 1/2 cup thick curd / yogurt
• Dates Tamarind Chutney as per requirement
  
• Spicy green chutney as per requirement
  
• Pomegranate aril for topping
• 2 tablespoon Sev for garnishing
• 2 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
• 2 tablespoon powdered sugar (optional)
• 1 tablespoon ghee 
• Chaat masala to taste
• Salt to taste        

Method:

1. Ghee roast the makhana in a wok on low to medium flame for around 4-5 minutes. Keep stirring occasionally to prevent the makhana from burning.
2. Meanwhile, take curd in a bowl and add powdered sugar if using , salt and roasted cumin powder and whisk until the curd turns smooth and creamy.
3. Allow the roasted makhana to cool down completely before adding it to the whisked curd. Blend the makhana well with the seasoned yogurt sauce and allow it to sit for 2-3 minutes.
4. Next, spoon out the dahi makhana in individual serving bowls. Drizzle the Dates and Tamarind chutney and the spicy green chutney as per your taste. Garnish the chaat with pomegranate arils, finely chopped coriander leaves and sev as per your liking.
5. Serve immediately !

Recipe Notes:

• Add the toasted makhana to the seasoned curd just before serving as it may become soggy if kept for a long time.
• Ghee toasting adds a lovely nutty flavor to the bland makhana, so i would highly recommend it. However , you may dry roast the makhana if you do not want to use ghee.
• Do not hurry while roasting the makhana. A perfectly roasted makhana should be crisp and crunchy like popcorn.
• If you wish to serve this chaat as fasting food , keep it simple and add only roasted cumin powder and rock salt for seasoning. Skip chaat masala and sev .

Would love to hear from you !

I hope you would love trying out this healthy and delicious Makhana Chat. If you do so, feel free to share your feedback with use in the form of likes and comments in the section below this post.

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See you soon with yet another healthy and delicious creation from my Kitchen. Until then Stay safe and eat right !

 

Happy Cooking !

Happy Eating !

 

Regards

Poonam Bachhav 

Related Posts:

• Corn Bhel / Sweet Corn Chaat

• Aloo Chana Chaat

• Kale Chane Ki Chaat

• Sweet Potato Chaat / Shakarkandi ki Chat

• Dahi Papdi Chaat

• Steamed Dahi Bhallla