5 Recipe Ideas With Makhanas You Can Try During Chaitra Navratri 2020

The festival of Navratri is just around the corner. This year Chaitra Navratri would be celebrated from 13 April 2021 to 22 April 2021. The nine-day festival sees most of us either observing fast or following a saatvik diet. The diet includes light, nutritious foods, and makhana is one of the most popular foods people have during this festival. Makhana, also called fox nut or lotus seed is airy and puffy, and is considered super healthy. First, it is low in calories, cholesterol and fats, and secondly, it contains anti-inflammatory properties, which help protect from seasonal diseases during this time of the year. Makhana becomes an important food during Navrtras for the same health properties it is prized for. 

Since, makhanas are rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates, they make for an ideal food for weight loss too. Roasted makhanas is the most preferred snack of dieters, especially during Navratras. But that's not all you can make with this nutritious food. There is a plethora of saatvik dishes you can make with makhanas and include in your Navratri meal plan. 

5 Dishes You Can Make With Makhanas During Navratri - 

1. Makhana Kheer

Kheer is our favourite when it comes to traditional Indian desserts. If you don't want to have 'samak ke chawal ki kheer' every day, try makhana kheer. The milky dessert with the goodness of makhanas and dry fruits is ideal for your festive spread. Click here to see how you can make makhana kheer at home.

^{Makhana kheer is a popular dessert made during Navratri.} 

2. Makhana Tikki

Make vrat-special tikki with makhanas, boiled potatoes, sendha namak, and other ingredients of your choice. To make this tikki, you'll have to soak the makhanas for a couple of hours so that they wilt and turn mushy to be included in the tikki mix.

3. Makhana Namkeen

If plain roasted makhanas don't appeal to your taste buds, add roasted peanuts, cashews, pistachios, raisins and coconuts shavings to it. Mix everything together with salt, pepper and amchur powder, and you'll get a flavourful namkeen snack that you can munch on whenever hunger strikes. 

^{Makhana namkeen is a filling snack.} 

4. Makhana Aloo Sabzi

If you falling short of sabzi options to make during Navratas, this dish could be a great pick. This is a simple dish made by cooking tomatoes with your spices and then adding boiled potatoes and makhanas and some water for gravy. Cook for 5 minutes and you're done. 

5. Makhana Barfi

Yes, you can also make barfi with makhana. Simply grind some makhanas in a mixer and add it to your barfi mix. Makhanas with besan, pistachios, cardamom powder, ghee and sugar makes for a great sweet that you'll love to have in your Navratri feast.

If you have stacked makhanas for Navratri, try these different dishes with it that you can easily make at home.