Fox nuts, also called makhana and water lily seeds, are a North Indian staple. For hundreds of years, they’ve been harvested from the underside of deep, muddy ponds throughout the area, and loved as a snack with spices or cooked into curry. Immediately, 90 p.c of fox nuts are nonetheless harvested in India, now usually in shallow ponds, however they’re rapidly turning into a world favourite.
In line with Subsequent Transfer Technique Consulting (NMSC), a market analysis agency, the worldwide marketplace for this distinctive seed is rising. In 2023, it was valued at greater than $45 million, and by 2030, it might attain greater than $80 million.
The remainder of the world is beginning to present an curiosity in fox nuts for a couple of causes. For one, they’re extremely nutritious, however they’re additionally versatile and gluten-free. “Their low-calorie content material, coupled with being gluten-free and vegan, positions them as a most well-liked alternative for health-conscious customers seeking to snack well,” notes NMSC.
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Maintain studying to search out out extra about fox nuts (together with their potential as a popcorn different), their advantages, and how you can rework them right into a wholesome, scrumptious snack.
What are fox nuts?
Fox nuts are the seeds of the Euryale fox (generally generally known as the prickly water lily), a plant that grows in water primarily in India and elements of Asia. The seeds are harvested from the plant’s flowers, which is why generally fox nuts are known as water lily seeds. They’re additionally known as lotus seeds, however they don’t really come from the lotus flower. As soon as collected, the seeds are roasted or popped to turn into gentle, puffy, crunchy snacks, form of like popcorn.
Are fox nuts wholesome?
Fox nuts are a preferred snack in India and elements of Asia, together with China, Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, and Japan, largely due to their well being advantages. They’re an excellent supply of protein, for instance, and so they’re additionally wealthy in fiber, in addition to minerals like magnesium and potassium.
Prickly water lily | Getty
One other main advantage of fox nuts is their antioxidant content material; they include small quantities of vitamin C, for instance, in addition to flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Antioxidants are potent plant compounds that assist to deal with oxidative stress within the physique, in addition to scale back continual irritation. Which means, over time, they could assist to cut back the chance of great illnesses, together with most cancers and coronary heart illness.
Are fox nuts like popcorn?
Fox nuts will be eaten in many alternative codecs. Phool makhana curry, for instance, consists of a creamy, spicy sauce with fox nuts and inexperienced peas. However one of the widespread methods to reap the advantages of fox nuts is in snack type.
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After they’re roasted or popped, fox nuts have a crunchy ethereal texture that’s similar to popcorn. They’ve a gentle, barely candy taste, which suggests they are often paired with many alternative substances, together with spices, nuts, and even chocolate and caramel.
Fox nuts are an excellent protein-rich different to popcorn. The latter does include small quantities of protein, nevertheless it’s nothing in comparison with fox nuts. Per 100 grams, fox nuts roughly include 10 grams of protein, whereas popcorn comprises round three grams.
5 methods to make corn-free popcorn with fox nuts
Feeling impressed to provide fox nuts a strive for your self? Discover 5 methods to show them right into a scrumptious film night-worthy snack under.
Mr. Prepare dinner
1 Chocolate Makhana
Fox nuts have a scrumptious texture when mixed with darkish chocolate and chopped nuts. It’s a simple snack to make, too. In line with Mr. Prepare dinner, all you should do is soften the chocolate, fold within the fox nuts, after which depart it to set, both at room temperature or within the fridge. Straightforward peasy.
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Indian Veggie Delight
2 Spicy Masala Makhana
In the event you want your snacks extra on the savory facet, this spicy fox nut recipe with turmeric, chaat masala, and pink chili powder is likely to be extra up your avenue. It does name for ghee, which isn’t vegan, however you’ll be able to swap in oil to maintain this tasty snack plant-based.
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Yellow Thyme
3 Curry leaf & Peanut Makhana
On this recipe, Yellow Thyme will present you how you can make a scrumptious crunchy snack with fox nuts, curry leaves, garlic, peanuts, mustard seeds, and cumin. Once more, you’ll be able to swap the ghee for oil to maintain it vegan. If this taste doesn’t sound interesting to you, the weblog submit additionally options recipes for Jaggery & Cardamom Makhana and Olive Oil and Herb Makhana.
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Bake With Shivesh
4 Caramel Makhana
These with a candy tooth will adore this easy recipe for caramel makhana, which mixes fox nuts with jaggery (a sweetener made with palm tree or sugar cane sap), water, and ghee. However once more, you’ll be able to swap the ghee out for oil fairly simply. Recipe developer Shivesh Bhatia says these fox nuts are “deeply caramelized” and “tremendous addictive.”
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Love Is In My Tummy
5 ‘Tacky’ Fox Nut Pops With Dietary Yeast and Garlic
Followers of tacky, savory popcorn will get pleasure from this garlicky tackle fox nut popcorn, which additionally options paprika, salt, and parsley. Recipe developer Tina Dawson describes herself as a “popcorn fiend,” and she will’t get sufficient of this fox nut different. “Once I let you know that these Fox Nut Pops are quicker, higher and waaaaay much less messier, you higher imagine it,” she says.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and author based mostly in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.