ROASTED SEEDS, ROASTED PEANUTS & ROASTED MAKHANA/FOXNUTS

These roasted snacks are roasted and delightfully crunchy, healthy, nutritious and

tasty that they will have the whole family coming back for more and more.

I have added below 4 different snacks. You can make one or more as per your preference.

ROASTED SUNFLOWER AND PUMPKIN SEEDS

Preparation time: 2 minutes.        Cooking time: 15 minutes.        Total time:  17 minutes

Ingredients:

For first mixing:

• 1 cup sunflower seeds (80 g)
• 1 cup pumpkin seeds (80 g)
• 1 tbsp water
• ½ tsp himalayan sea salt or any salt

For second mixing:

• ½ tbsp virgin olive oil
• ½ tsp Amchoor ( dry mango powder)
• ½ tsp black pepper.
• ¼ tsp red flies chili (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C
2. Take a mixing bowl and add both seeds and mix these. Keep it aside.
3. Take a small bowl. Add water and salt and mix nicely.
4. Mix the salt mixture to the seed mixture.
5. Line the baking tray and then spread the seeds evenly with a spoon and keep in the preheated oven.
6. Keep it uncovered for 10 minutes turning once or twice with a spatula. These should have roasted a little until now.2,á
7. Take it out from the oven, and mix the second mix ingredients with the salted seeds completely.
8. Keep it again in the oven for another 5 minutes.
9. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool before transferring to an airtight container.

Special note:

1. Roasted seeds should be ready to be enjoyed at any time of the day as a snack and will give you energy.
2. Roasted seeds can remain good for a month if kept in an airtight container.

ROASTED PEANUTS

These roasted peanuts are a convenient snack to be taken when going for walks, road trips, hiking adventures or days at the beach. This recipe makes packaged peanuts from the store taste stale and is very easy.

Preparation time: 2 minutes.     Cooking time: 30 minutes        Total time: 32 minutes

Ingredients:

For first mixing:

• 400 gram shelled peanuts
• 2 tbsp of water
• ¾ tsp of himalayan sea salt

For second mixing:

1. 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2. ¾ tsp of Amchoor ( mango powder)
3. ½ tsp of black pepper
4. ½ tsp of red chili flakes

Method

5. Preheat the oven at 150 C.
6. Take a medium size bowl and add the ingredients of the first mixing. Mix these completely.
7. Take a shallow baking tray, and add the peanuts to this tray, and spread these evenly.
8. Keep it uncovered for 15 minutes.
9. Take it out, and mix these with spatula and put it again for another 10 minutes.
10. After 10 minutes, take the peanuts out and mix all the ingredients which are in the
    1.  second mixing.
11. Keep the tray again in the oven for another 5 minutes or until these are golden brown in color.
12. Take these out of the oven and let it cool. These go on cooking until they cool down.
13. Once they cool down, these should be transferred to an airtight container.

Special note:

1. Roasted peanuts can remain good for a month if kept in an airtight container.

ROASTED MAKHANA ( FOX NUTS)

Roasted Makhana is a healthy snack that is made with slow roasting with dry seasonings and herbs.

Preparation time: 2 minutes.           Cooking time: 10 minutes.            Total time: 12 minutes

Ingredients:

• 60 g raw Makhanas
• 1 tsp ghee or olive oil
• ¼ tsp of turmeric/haldi
• ¼ tsp red flakes chili
• ½ tsp Amchur/mango powder
• ½ tsp himalayan sea salt
• ½ tsp of chat masala

Method:

1. Take heavy based  work or madam and keep it on low heat.
2. Add ghee or oil and as soon as it becomes a little hot, add makhanas and go on stirring it for 8 to 10 minutes or until they become crisp.
3. Then add all the spices except chat masala and mix these well.
4. Turn off the heat so that spices are not burnt.
5. Lasly, add the chat masala and again mix these well.
6. These roasted makhanas are ready to serve as soon as they become lukewarm or cool at room temperature.
7. Once these cool down, store these in an airtight container.

Special note:

1. You can change the recipe by adding your favorite seasonings and spices but these should be only dry spices or herbs.

MIXED NUTS:

A bowl of mixed nuts as a snack is in itself a healthy snack.

Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp of almonds
• 1 tbsp of pecan seeds
• 1 tbsp of hazelnuts
• 1 tbsp  of almonds
• 1 tbsp of walnuts
• ½ tbsp of pistachio nuts

Method:

1. Add all the above ingredients in a bowl and serve.
2. The quantities of these can be reduced or increased as per your preference.
3. In the same way, the variety of nuts can be changed as per your preference.
4. If required raisins, cranberry or goose berry can be added to give it a sweet touch.