Modak

Its Ganesh Festival time.  Though a Malayali by birth, I have stayed in Maharashtra for the first 29 years of my life. So, Ganesh festival and all things related to it was a very important part of growing up.  As friends and neighbors were mostly maharastrians,  Ganesh sthapana (installation of idol) on Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesh Visarjan ( immersion of the idol), Modaks, durva collection, visiting of different mandals are some of the memories of childhood related to Ganesh festival .  I miss all those festivity excitement now in Gurgaon.  And most important the steamed modals made by all the neighborhood kaki’s and Vaihini’s.  

 

One of my colleague’s wife makes yummy modaks, for the last few years she has been sending modal for me during Ganesh Chaturti, which keeps me fulfilled of my sweet desire.  But, this year they are in Pune to celebrate the festival and I and few of the other colleagues are missing our dose of Modak’s.  So, tried my hand in making Modak’s and treating the team. Below is the result.

Ingredient

For the outer cover

Rice flour – 1 cup
Water – 1 cup
Ghee – 1 tsp
Salt – pinch

For the filling

Grated fresh coconut – 1 cup
Jaggery  - ½ cup
Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
Nutmeg powder – ¼ tsp

Method 

For the filling

1.         In a non-stick pan heat the grated coconut and jaggery  till the jaggery melts and both of them mix together.

2.         Add cardamom powder and Nutmeg powder and mix well.

3.         You can keep this mixture in a refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

 
For the cover

1.         Swift the rice flour nicely.

2.         Boil the water with ghee and salt.

3.         When the water boils, put off the heat.

4.         Immediately add the rice flour and mix well.

5.         Cover this mixture with a lid and keep it for 5 min.

6.         After 5 min, transfer the mixture to a kneading bowl.

7.         Knead this mixture to a soft dough, while it is still warm ( when it gets cool it will get lumpy).

8.         This this dough in an airtight container.

To make the Modak

1.         Apply ghee in you hand. Take little lemon  size dough and roll it into a ball.

2.         Flatten it well, as thin as possible without breaking.

3.         Shape the edge into a flower pattern.

4.         Put a spoonful of filling in the middle of the flower.

5.         Seal the dough, shaping like a water drop.

6.         Grease the steamer plate.  Place these steamer on the greased palate and steam these modaks 5 min.  (I use idle steamer, you can use the dhokla steamer, momo maker or cooker without whistle).

7.     Makes around 8 Modaks.