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Makhana Kheer with Milk Powder

Bihar's fox-nut kheer: roasted makhana crushed and simmered in milk with saffron and cardamom. Milk powder replaces the long reduction, adding protein and saving time.

Region

Bihar (Mithila)

Status

Adaptation — milk powder replaces long reduction; sugar reduced

Diet label

Strictly vegetarian, egg-free

Time

Prep 5 min · Cook 20 min

Serves

3 (about 230 ml each)

Difficulty

Easy

Good for

Festivals and fasting days (vrat), warm or chilled

Tags

Good source · Soy-free · Whey-free · Gluten-free

Allergens

Milk, tree nuts (almonds)

Nutrition (estimated)

Calories

250 kcal

Protein

11.5 g

Carbs

31 g

Fat

9 g

Fibre

<1 g

Headline values are per serving, as written.

Good source (11.3 g before rounding). The protein comes almost entirely from milk; makhana contributes texture rather than protein. Makhana values from NIN's Nutritive Value of Indian Foods (no IFCT entry). Values checked against IFCT 2017 on 15 Oct 2026.

Ingredients

• 600 ml toned milk · 30 g skimmed milk powder
• 30 g makhana (fox nuts) · 3 g ghee
• 25 g sugar · ¼ tsp cardamom powder · a pinch of saffron
• 10 g almonds, slivered

Method

1. Roast makhana in ghee on low heat for 5–6 minutes until crisp (one should crunch when pressed). Crush half coarsely; keep half whole.
2. Whisk milk powder into the milk. Bring to a boil in a heavy pan, stirring.
3. Add all the makhana. Simmer on low for 12–15 minutes, stirring often, until the makhana is soft and the kheer coats a spoon.
4. Stir in sugar, saffron and cardamom; simmer 2 minutes.
5. Serve warm or chilled, topped with almonds.

Protein optimisation

• Milk supplies 6 g per serving, milk powder 3.5 g, makhana 1 g, almonds 0.5 g.
• Boost: increase milk powder to 45 g (+2 g protein, +20 kcal and +2.5 g lactose per serving).

Variations, serving and storage

• Regional: Mithila makhana-kheer with fresh coconut and a little jaggery (adds about 30 kcal per serving).
• Substitution: for vrat, use rock sugar or jaggery as your custom permits.
• Storage: 2 days refrigerated; it thickens — loosen with milk.
• Food safety: refrigerate within 2 hours.
• Meal prep: good.

Nutrition values are estimates calculated from the Indian Food Composition Tables 2017 (ICMR-NIN) and typical product labels. They have not been laboratory-analysed and will vary with your ingredients, brands and cooking. Recipes are for healthy adults and are general information only, not a substitute for advice from a doctor or qualified dietitian. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, cooking for children, have food allergies, or live with kidney disease, diabetes or any other medical condition, please take professional advice about your diet. From the collection Protein-Rich India by Dr. Shantanu Deshpande · drshantanudeshpande.com