Phool Makhana or Makhana are called asLotus seeds or Foxnut in English .Phool makhana or Makhana are lotus seeds which are dried and popped like a popcorn . Makhana is very nutritious and has very less calories in it . its easy to digest and has lots of nutritional benefits . In india makhana is cooked in lots of ways. you can eat makhana at the time of vrath .you can use makhana to make lots of sabjis and  spicy curries  like matar makhana ,aloo makhana , paneer makhana etc and to make sweet dessert like Phool Makhana  Kheer

Roasted makhana is a  snacks recipe and very good finger food for toddlers as well as adults.Easy to make in microwave or pan.There r lots of variation of this recipes .You can eat it during your vrath(fast ). It’s a good substitute for pop corn.Personally I like it more than popcorn. Roasted makhana is a healthy snacks to munch.

I make Roasted makhana in two ways 

Caramelized makhana(vrath recipe)

[ingredients title=”Ingredients”]

• 2 cup makhana
• 2 teaspoon ghee/butter
• 2 tablespoon sugar

[/ingredients]

[directions title=”Directions”]

1. Take makhana in  a microwave safe bowl add ghee or butter on it mix it nicely and microwave it for 1 minute  remove it from microwave oven mix it and again microwave it for 1 minute and keep it aside…
2. If you’re making it in pan roast it with 1 teaspoon ghee until it becomes crispy and crunchy

For caramel

1. In a thick bottom non stick pan take 1 teaspoon ghee ,add sugar to it and  continuously stir it,  when the sugar will start becoming brown and sticky add makhana in it and mix it nicely and roast it for few second …remove it from the flame …
2. Caramelized makhana are ready to serve

[/directions]

Plain salted butter/ghee makhana (vrath recipe)

[ingredients title=”Ingredients”]

• 2 cup makhana
• 1 teaspoon ghee or butter
• common salt / Saindhanamak (rock salt for vrath)

[/ingredients]

[directions title=”Directions”]

1. Mix all the in ingredients in a microwave safe broad bottom bowl …ghee should be spread nicely to each and every makhana…
2. Microwave it on high power for 1minute mix it again microwave it for 40 -50 seconds or till it becomes crispy
3. If you don’t want to use microwave roast it in a pan …

[/directions]