Makhana

Makhana is an alternative term for gorgon nuts — the popped seeds of the prickly water lily Euryale ferox, harvested by hand from ponds and wetlands in India (notably Bihar). The hard seeds are roasted and popped like popcorn into light, crunchy, mildly nutty puffs, eaten roasted as a snack (often with ghee and spices) or used in curries, kheer and sweets. Low in fat and offering useful protein and minerals for a snack food, they suit health-positioned ranges; quality depends on uniform popping, crispness and freedom from unpopped hard seeds. They need dry, airtight storage to stay crisp, since the porous puff readily absorbs moisture and turns leathery.