Fasting Recipes to Celebrate Krishna Janmashtami

“Hathi Goda Palkhi Jai Kanhaiyya Lal Ki!” Just a few hours left and the celebration of Krishna Janmashtami 2026 will start. This is one of India’s most favourite and popular festivals amongst Lord Krishna’s devotees and young Govindas. One of the important parts of Krishna Janmashtami is fasting. So this year, let’s try some healthy, delicious and guilt-free fasting recipes with roasted makhana.      

Roasted phool makhana, or roasted fox nuts, are a sacred, nutritious, and fast-friendly ingredient ideal for preparing prasad and fasting meals during Krishna Janmashtami. These roasted fox nuts are healthy, low in calories, and provide body to many types of dishes, both sweet and savoury. Let us take a look at some of the most popular fasting recipes made with roasted makhana.

1. Classic Makhana Kheer

Kheer was originally made as a sacred offering to Hindu deities in temples, symbolising prosperity and devotion. It is a creamy and rich milk pudding traditionally offered as naivedhyam to Lord Krishna.

Ingredients

• 90 g makhana
• 1 litre full-fat milk
• 14 g of desi ghee
• Chopped almonds and cashews
• Raisins
• 2 g of cardamom powder
• 150 g jaggery or sugar.

Method

Heat ghee in a pan and roast the makhana until crisp. Crush half of the makhana and blend the other half into a fine powder. Boil the milk, add the powdered and whole makhana, and simmer until thick. Stir in the sweetener, cardamom powder, and nuts, then serve warm or chilled.

• Makhana Dry Fruit Panjiri

A wholesome, satvik prasad loaded with the goodness of nuts and ghee. This recipe is sure to satisfy your sweet cravings, even while you fast. This will be a good recipe for Kanha’s prasad.

Ingredients

• 30 g makhana
• 28 g of ghee
• 35 g chopped almonds and cashews
• 9 g melon seeds
• Grated coconut
• Cardamom powder

Method

Roast the makhana and chopped nuts in ghee until crunchy. Then mix them with grated coconut, cardamom powder, and a touch of powdered sugar or melted jaggery.

• Simple Spiced Roasted Makhana

A quick and crunchy snack to keep your energy up during the fast. It is both delicious and nutritious – and easy to make. You can use plain makhana or our Himalayan Pink Salt makhana for this easy recipe.

Ingredients

• 60 g of makhana
• 1 tablespoon of ghee
• Rock salt (sendha namak)
• A pinch of black pepper

Method

Heat ghee in a heavy pan on low heat. Add makhana and roast slowly for 5 to 7 minutes until crisp. Season with sendha namak and black pepper.

• Makhana Uttapam

Makhana uttapam is a fun and creative way to include makhana in a Janmashtami meal. It is soft, savoury, and satisfying and made with vrat-friendly phool makhana. It is a good choice for devotees who want to have wholesome meals associated with offers made for Gopal.

Ingredients

• 60 g of makhana
• 200 g of bhagar (Barnyard Millet)
• 500 g of yoghurt
• 80 ml of water
• Rock salt
• Ghee
• Grated carrots
• Finely chopped capsicum
• Tomatoes
• Green chillies
• Coriander

Method

Soak the washed makhana and bhagar in yoghurt-water for 2 hours. Bhagar is a fast-friendly rice/grain. Then grind into a smooth batter and rest with rock salt for 10 minutes. Spread on a heated, water-wiped pan, top with grated vegetables, drizzle ghee, and cook both sides until crispy (wiping the pan with water between batches). Serve with green coconut chutney.

• Makhana Fruit Custard

Makhana Fruit Custard is a dish with crunchy makhana, creamy custard, and juicy fruits in one vrat-friendly, easy-to-make treat. This can even outshine traditional sweets for your Janmashtami offering to Gopal.

Ingredients

• 45 g of makhana
• 0.5 litres of milk
• 12 almonds peeled and soaked
• 40 g of mishri powder
• 20 saffron strands
• 45 ml of warm milk
• 40 g of pomegranate seeds
• 70 g of chikoo
• 40 g of black grapes
• 40 g of green grapes
• 150 g of chopped apple
• 120 g of chopped banana
• 1 g of cardamom powder
• 35 g dry fruits

Method

Soak makhana and almonds in milk for the base, and bloom saffron separately by toasting and steeping it in warm milk. Blend the makhana-almond mixture with banana, mishri, and saffron milk into a smooth custard. Toss with mixed fruits, dry fruits, and cardamom powder – no custard powder or cornflour needed.

From creamy kheer to crunchy panjiri, tangy uttapam to fruity custard, roasted makhana proves that fasting for Krishna Janmashtami doesn’t mean compromising on taste or variety. Simple, nourishing, and rooted in tradition, these recipes make it easy to prepare wholesome prasad for Gopal while keeping your vrat both meaningful and delicious.

If you really like these recipes try them this Janmashtami. Let makhana take centre stage on your fasting thali.

If you need to add a little flavour, use Makhanawala’s Himalayan Pink Salt for an added zing to any of these recipes. It’s also a good option for fasting and traveling, working, and gives you energy. Other than fasting, try our other makhanas, such as Makhanawala’s Pudina Punch, Peri Peri Makhana, Cheesy Italiana and many more. Just check out your favourite flavour on our website and shop now.