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Have you ever eaten Makhana Bhel and chaat?
A treat from India – it tastes so good and is so good for you!
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s a power food which still gives you all the delights of street food. Makhana, which is also known as phool makhana and for which the English name is Fox Nuts, is not a food commonly known to all Indians. I myself had tasted it only as a somewhat bland Sindhi dish with gravy called Phool Patasha – not a very exciting dish in childhood days. Makhana is often cooked as a sabzi, curry or as ritual food during fasts but its spicy, colorful avatar as street food in a paper cone is quite a new experience for me and makes one feel one is having fun with food.
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]akhana bhel with all the spices and trimmings was recently introduced at the Indian Consulate in New York, created by Chef Hemant Mathur of Saar Indian Bistro for the guests at an evening of a celebration of India’s many products. It was a roadshow for One District One Product and they were showcasing the very special product from each state and some of the food items were recreated here for for the guests.
One District One Product gives you a rundown of this initiative from India but I was completely intrigued by the fact that foods and spices we take for granted or pick up at any store in India actually come from special districts and sometimes in really creative ways. Sikkim, for instance, has a really special quality of organic turmeric but to get it out to other parts of the country quickly so that the taste and smell is at its best, it is actually sent out by drone!
It was at this event that I got to eat makhana in its new avatar – as street-food. It seems it’s a quick way to pan-fry it and eat it like pop-corn. I also learned that 90 percent of the world’s makhana comes from just one place in India – Bihar. It is a crop to which farmers there have taken with open arms as it is not affected by lack of rain and grows easily, ensuring the farmers a livelihood.
Makhana – a health food
Here Are Some Benefits Of Makhanas (Fox Nuts)
(Source: NDTV)
1) They are low in cholesterol, fat and sodium. This makes them an ideal snack to satiate those in-between meal hunger pangs.
2) They are beneficial to those suffering from high blood pressure, heart diseases and obesity due to their high magnesium and low sodium content.
3) Makhanas are recommended for diabetics too due to their low glycemic index.
4) An anti-ageing enzyme in these seeds is said to help repair damaged proteins.
5) In addition, the presence of a natural flavonoid called kaempferol (also present in coffee), helps prevent inflammation and ageing.
6) Ayurvedic beliefs suggest that fox nuts astringent properties that benefit the kidneys.
7) Makhanas are gluten-free, protein rich and high in carbohydrates.
8) They are low in calories, making them an ideal snack for weight loss.
9) Ayurvedic and Unani medicine believe them to have aphrodisiac properties.
