Curb those 4 PM hunger cravings with this low-calorie makhana bhel

Raise your hand if you’re missing those tangy, munchy, and teekha bhel puri sessions. Most of us do right, isn’t it? That’s exactly why we thought it’s time to bring the taste of the streets to your home, albeit in a healthy way. Yes, this street style bhel is loaded with nutrition, as it is made from makhana or fox nuts.

Makhana is the perfect pal for that 4 PM growl—it keeps you full, and is loaded with nutrients. It has everything in good measure: fibre, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein!

We know you’re drooling, so let’s tell you what you need to prepare makhana bhel.

Ingredients: 

200 gm roasted makhana or fox nuts
20 gm roasted peanuts
5 tbsp of puffed rice
20 gm roasted almonds and cashews
1 chopped onion
1 chopped tomato
2 chopped green chilies
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
Black rock salt (as per taste)
1 tsp black pepper
1 lemon
Desi ghee just to grease the pan

Also Read

6 vegan ice cream recipes to beat the summer heat Read Now

Ingredients for the sweet and sour sauce

50 gm jaggery
10 gm imli or tamarind
500 ml water
2 tsp roasted jeera powder

Here’s how you make the chatpata makhana bhel

1. Slightly grease the pan, and add makhana, puffed rice, and peanuts in it with salt to taste. Now, dry roast them until they turn crisp. Once done, take them out and keep aside.

2. Now, take almonds and cashew nuts, add a pinch of salt and roast them as well.

3. To make the tamarind sauce, take a pan and add some water to it. Once it comes to a boil, add jaggery and tamarind to it. Next, add roasted cumin powder, and keep stirring until the jaggery dissolves. Boil this mixture, until it reduces to half. Keep it aside, until it cools down.

4. Now, take a bowl and add all the ingredients like makhana, puffed rice, peanuts, almonds, cashews, onions, tomato, green chilies, coriander leaves, salt, black pepper, lemon juice, and tamarind sauce. Toss this mixture, and it’s done!

Ta-da! Wasn’t it simple? The best part is you don’t need to worry about the calorie quotient of this chatpata bhel. It’s homemade, and there’s really no ingredient that’ll make you gain pounds! On the other hand, imli or tamarind chutney is also known to promote weight loss. So, sit back and enjoy this delish bhel in the comfort of your home!