As a kid, my mother used to feed me fox nuts – which I hated because they were tasteless. A few years ago, someone reintroduced me to them, and to my surprise, I still wasn’t a fan. I wondered why people liked them.
Thankfully, my mom had a way of getting me to eat them. She roasted the nuts, adding some spices and condiments, creating a healthy version of popcorn. Crunchy, flavorful, and the perfect tea-time snack!
Fox nuts are seeds from the lotus flower. They are cultivated in water, largely found in India, and known as “Makhana.” They are also found in Korea, Japan, and Russia, where they are referred to as “Gorgon Nuts” or Euryale Ferox.
Highly nutritious, fox nuts have been popular as a snack and are commonly used in various recipes, especially in Indian cuisine. They can be enjoyed roasted or fried and stored long-term in airtight containers. The Chinese have used them medicinally to strengthen the spleen and kidneys due to their many health benefits.
The Health Benefits Of Eating Fox Nuts
- Fox Nuts are considered nutritionally superior to dry fruits like almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts and coconut in terms of sugar, protein, ascorbic acid and phenol content
- They are rich in antioxidants, which help prevent signs of aging like white hair, wrinkles, and premature aging.
- Their high fiber content helps to avoid constipation. It helps the body flush out waste and prevents the accumulation of toxins in the body
- It is also an aphrodisiac, helping in fertility issues like premature ejaculation, increasing the quality of semen and also helps women in overcoming infertility
- These nuts are low on saturated fats and Sodium and high on Magnesium, Potassium and helps in controlling high blood pressure and diabetes as well
- Fox Nuts help in controlling palpitation and insomnia as it has calming properties
- It helps in relieving arthritis – numbness and pain in joints
- As it is has astringent properties, it also helps cure diarrhea and have a better appetite
- It strengthens the body and reduces burning sensation and quenches thirst
Here is my mother’s simple recipe to make it more tastier!
Fox nuts can be included in cereals or soups to support good health. High in protein, they make a great vegetarian snack. However, since their taste is neutral, most people don’t eat them raw. Here’s a simple recipe my mother used to make them more flavorful:
- Heat 2 teaspoon of homemade ghee in a pan
- Add salt and turmeric, stirring for few seconds. You can also add red chili, curry leaves, and mustard seeds for extra flavor.
- Add the Fox nuts and roast them for a few minutes
This snack is ideal for between meals or with tea or coffee. Fox nuts are also enjoyed as a fasting food in India, where they are regarded as sacred. Apart from snacking, you can add them to cereals, vegetable dishes, rice, or even desserts. So, what are you waiting for? Add fox nuts to your diet today!
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Are lotus seeds same as euryale ferox [fox nut]? Because both are from a different genus but are called makahana in Hindi.
yes both are same.
Lotus seeds are not makhanas and so far as I know, are not called makhanas colloquially . I do not know how the food bloggers equate makhana with lotus seed.
I absolutely love Makhana. I too, like you, did not like them too much without added flavors. But then my mom started adding it to smoothies, and serving it for breakfast in my milk instead of store-bought cereal (which is high in sugars). This changed the way I eat. They are a very beneficial ingredient and as you mentioned, can be made salty as a tea time snack, into a kheer (Indian dessert – custard) or just used as cereal in milk in lieu of store-bought cereal!
Hi,
I was looking for the benefit of eating Makhana and bump here…good article.
as a child and grown up I always enjoyed munching Makhana, now giving it to my 11 months old angel and Mash Allah!she loves it too…we do make kheer using this seed and also have it roasted in to ghee and later sprinkle pepper and salt.
Well I guess I’m the only one that actually likes to eat it raw instead of cooked hmmm
Oh! Yes they are more healthier than cereals.
Do you have any other cooking method to enhance its flavor and aroma?
Love this. thanks for the recipe and the cereal idea,
are they good against ‘iron deficiency anaemia’?
Hi Mitali…is it good for babies and toddlers? I used to dry roast foxnuts then grind it to powder form. While feeding it mixed the powder with water n added little ghee. I hope that grinding foxnuts doesn’t change its nutritional value? Looking for your reply.
This is a very important information.
I love these roasted makhanas and I can’t seem to stop once i pop one in my mouth . Addictive but guilt free . Just want to know how much of these is too much ?
I also love eating makhanas.. I roast them in salt like road side halkers roast peanuts and popcorns in a big karahi in salt..Very nice knowledgeable article.. In Delhi different types of masala wala Makhanas are on sale…
Thanks you. However, I found it curious you hated the foxnuts your mother gave you and then you give us your mother’s recipe.
Very smooth blog post . I surely love this site . Continue the good work!
Thanks for the valuable information. I would likee to share more information.
Although lotus seeds as a part of one’s diet might seem surprising for many, it is one of the healthiest foods to consume, especially if you are expecting a baby. This seed is extracted from the middle portion of the lotus flower. It is eaten mainly in south and south-east Asia. It is packed with lots of nutrients, namely calcium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, potassium, vitamin B-complexes, amino acids, and lots of antioxidants. These seeds are eaten as ingredients in soups, curries, or are simply deep fried or baked to be eaten as snacks, just like popcorn!
https://parentinghealthybabies.com/health-benefits-of-lotus-seeds-for-pregnant-moms/
R makhanas hot or cold in nature….can they b given to pregnant women
We had been regularly consuming fox nuts since many years , but roasting it would take a long time to make it crisp. The new way to cook , we found out , is in the air fryer with little oil and salt ,
Air fry it for 14 to 15 minutes at 180 degree. We are extemely happy about this new way of cooking and the comsumption has gone up by many many more times something like more than a kilo in a month.
MUST TRY.
this is a great article about fox nuts. I wanted to know one more thing does it has any other nutritional value which is good for muscle building for sports.
Makhana for sure is not lotus seed.
Makhana and lotus both grow in water.
While lotus leaves and stem and the underwater fruit cluster have a smooth texture, the underside of makhana leaves its stem and fruit cluster have numerous spines or spikes which can be very painful if you prick yourself.
A cursory google search will reveal that makhana and lotus are two different things.
How much carbs are in 100gms of Foxnut. .
To avail its its health benfits how much should be consumed everyday
Lotus & Lillly both are of aquatic origin and same family.
Lotus has bigger flower and its seeds are outside water over a stem shoot.
Lilly has its fruit below water level.
It’s easy to roast in microwave with little ghee or oil ( I use olive) and necessary herbs or just salt, little turmeric and chilli powder optional. Roast for about 1.30 minutes. That’s all!!
The article has a beneficiary content, which has helped me a lot in understanding, Lotus Seeds have many health benefits like’s body to function properly, there should be proper blood circulation so that the oxygen is pumped to all the blood cells. When this happens correctly, functionality and energy levels of all the vital organs can be enhanced.
I started this nuts with other ingredients like poppy seeds , sesame seeds , fennel seeds and almonds . Made powder and taking two spoonful with hot milk everyday before bed , it’s really effective . I had heel surgery in January but pain stayed there till August , dr. couldn’t do anything till I started this method , my pain is almost gone . MAKHANE ARE MAIN IN MY POWDER .
Is it useful for controlling diabetes. How much to consume
Makhana controls gas… Especially during pregnancy wen one can’t take meds, makahanas dry roasted without oil is a life savor