Makhana Panjiri Recipe with nuts and gond/edible gum for fasting days like Navratri, Janmashtami Prasad and snacking.
Navratri Fasting Recipe | Janmashtami Prasad Recipe | Healthy Snack Recipe
About the Recipe
Makhana Panjiri is a mix of nutritious Makhana, nuts like almonds, cashew nuts, with edible gum ground coarsely and sweetened with jaggery or your preferred sweetener.
Makhana Panjiri is popular in many parts of Uttar Pradesh(India) and made during festivals like Janamashtami. Traditionally it is made with Makhana, Magaz(Melon Seeds) and sugar or jaggery. Many people add gond(edible gum) and other dry fruits like almonds or cashew nuts also. Every house has a different way of preparing this nutritious Panjiri.
You can also call it Makhana Granola and consume it not only for fasting days and Janmashtami Prasad but also as a healthy snacks for your family.
Makhana the Super Food
Makhane or Fox Nut or Lotus Seeds or Phool Makhane as popularly known in Indian Subcontinent, are widely consumed during the fasting period like Navratri, Shivratri and used in the religious ceremonies, especially in the northern parts of India.
These are used in making desserts like puddings/kheer snacks and curries.
Benefits of Makhana
- Recent researches have shown that these puffed fox nut seeds( Makhana) is one of the super foods native to India.
- Apart from being the rich sources of proteins, carbohydrates and fibers, these are also the store houses of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus. No wonder, people consume these during fasting period to replenish the loss of vital nutrients during resources from the body .
- The low sodium and fat content and high magnesium content makes these ideal for consumption by those suffering from heart diseases and cholesterol problems.
- These seeds are also known to have the anti-aging effects , repair the damaged proteins.(Source: various online resources)
One of the best ways to consume these humble seeds is by roasting these in very little ghee or oil and seasoning with salt(sendha namak/rock salt during fasting period).
What is Panjiri
Panjiri, is a mix of ground nuts , dry fruits and spices like ginger powder, fennel seeds with edible gum(gond) in wheat flour. It is given as a health food to keep the body warm and aids the pain and aches during the harsh winters in Northern parts of India.
Panjiri is also given to new mothers during the lactation period for regaining the strength and circulatory and lymphatic flow(breast milk production).
Check the recipe for Whole Wheat and Ragi Ladoos with Edible Gum that has the ingredients similar to Whole Wheat Panjiri(Atta Panjiri) but made in less ghee and have an added nutritious ingredient Ragi.
Dhaniya Panjiri is another Panjiri which is made with Dhaniya Powder or Coriander Powder. It is also one of the main prasad item prepared for Janmashtami festival.
Avoid Gond or Edible Gum if you live in hot weather, as it aggravates body heat.
Ingredients to make Makhana Panjiri
Makhana, Dry fruits like Almonds, Cashew nuts, Melon Seeds, Fennel Seeds, Cardamom Powder/Dry Ginger Powder(optional), Jaggery powder or grated jaggery or use any sugar.
Gond/Edible Gum- I also like to add gond to it, you can skip it if you are making it during summer time as gond can aggravates body heat in many people during summers. Also, gond can be skipped if you avoid gond during fasting days.
How to make Makhana Panjiri
- In a pan heat 1 tbsp desi ghee.
- Add goond to it and roast it till it puffs nicely. Take out in a separate plate and cool it completely.
- Add more ghee and roast almonds, cashew nuts and melon seeds.
- Next roast makhana, add more ghee if required. Crush makhana seeds to check if it is nicely roasted.
- Cool all the nuts completely.
- Coarsely grind all the nuts and puffed gond in food processor or grinder.
- Next in the same pan add jaggery and melt it.
- Now add fennel seeds/powder, dry ginger powder or cardamom powder.
- Add coarsely powdered nuts mixture and fold it nicely it will be a crumbly mixture.
Recipe Card
Makhana Goond Panjiri
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Makhana(Lotus Seeds)
- 1/4 Cup Almonds
- 1/4 Cup Cashew Nuts
- 2 tsp Edible Gum/Goond
- 3-4 tbsp Desi Ghee
- 1-2 tsp Fennel Seeds
- 3/4 Cup Jaggery/Sugar or as required
- 1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder
- 1/4 tsp Dry Ginger Powder
Instructions
- Take a tbsp of desi ghee in pan and roast edible gum/gond till it puffs.
- Roast almonds, cashew nuts in another tsp of ghee.
- In the same pan roast makhana in remaining tbsp of ghee. To check whether the the makahna is roasted, crush it between the fingers.
- In food processor grind all the nuts and gum coarsely, and keep aside.
- In another pan, take jaggery with a tsp of ghee and heat till jaggery melts. Add fennel seeds and dry ginger powder.
- Add the nut powder, mix well. The mixture will be crumbly.
- Transfer to a dish to cool and store in airtight container. Stays well for 1-2 months.
Notes
- You can also add Pistachios and Flax Seeds along with almonds and cashews.
- Traditionally melon seeds are also added to the fasting panjiri, add if you have these. I skipped these as I didn't had it.
- Jaggery can be replaced with sugar.
- In case you avoid gond during fasting, skip while making for the fasting days.
Do try this Makhana Panjiri, it is a kind of gluten-free granola and also a healthy and nutritious snack for fasting period. Carry to work or pack in kids' snack box. It is very good for teenagers also they can have something healthy and nutritious for munching during their long studying hours.
Also, whenever you try the recipe, I will love to hear/share your feedback or any queries in the comment section below. I will try to answer your queries as soon as possible.
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Swati
Jolly
I love panjeeri, I used to add roasted makhana in my panjeeri as one of the dry fruits, but never tried makhana panjeeri. This makhana panjeeri with gond sounds so flavourful and healthy! I’ll surely try it out soon. ?
Superduperkitchen -Niranjana Sankaranarayanan
Anything made with makhana is my fav. Loved this panjiri made with makhana?Would love to make this...
hem lata srivastava
Very well explained, healthy and delicious I always make makhana firni and kheer. Panjiri looks so delicious
Sasmita Sahoo Samanta
Lovely idea to make panjiri using makhana .... I love it and surely try sometime !! Partiularly love the addition of edible gum here 🙂
chawlasangita
Healthy nutritious food
Pavani
Thanks for sharing this traditional dish with us. It looks so nutritious and so yummy with all the rich ingredients.
PepperOnPizza
Somehow I was under the impression that panjiri is made of wheat flour and jaggery. The panjiri your have posted, with makhana, gond and almonds, flavoured with fennel and saunt, cooked with jaggery, sounds totally delicious. Sujata Shukla from PepperOnPizza
Preethi Prasad
Makhana Panjiri with goand is so nutritious and delish. I remember having this a few years back at my friends place.Love the taste.Fabulous winter treat Swati.
Swati
Thanks Preeti .. yes it’s flooding winters and when one is fasting also..
Veena Krishnakumar
Panjiri looks super delicious. This is such a healthy dish and so easily prepared. Bookmarked for this shivarathri
Vidya Narayan
Panjiri is the Ultimate winter treat from North India. With the addition of makhana, it is even more healthier and delicious. The fact that roasting of makhana needs a certain skill, pounding it coarsely for the panjiri texture here is amazing. Unless its roasted well, you wont get the desired texture which you have nicely achieved Swaty.
poonampagar
I make dhaniya panjiri with makhana as bhog for Janmashtami. I love that you have added edible gum with makhana and dry fruits. The whole preparation looks so inviting !
Batter Up With Sujata
Thanks for introducing a new recipe. I love panjiri but I know only atta or suji panjiri . Makhana panjiri sounds so delicious and healthy. Great snack for growing kids Lovely share.
themadscientistskitchen
This is a totally new recipe n sounds so delicious. I have powdered gum n was wondering what I could make that everyone will eat. I think I know what I can make. Thanks for the recipe.
Megala
Wonderful recipe using nutritious ingredients. I would love to take this as a snack.
mayurisjikoni
I have fallen involve with this recipe. I love panjiri and your version is so different. Have to try it out so bookmarking it.
sizzlingtastebuds
Love panjiri but never made at home , the festive looking treat is tempting me much 🙂 such a lovely idea to use makkahana to make it..
The Girl Next Door
Growing up in Gujarat, I used to love the dhania panjeeri that was offered as Prasad in temples on the occasion of Janmashtami. This panjeeri with makhana and gond sounds so flavourful and healthy! I'll surely try it out soon. 🙂
Swati
Thanks Priya.In U.P and Punjab Dhaniya Panjiri is also offered for Prasad during Janamashtami.Do try this as it is very good for bones and general well being for everyone.. You can avoid goond in hot weather as it aggravates body heat.