Ukadiche Modak or the classic modak is Lord Ganpati’s favourite food and is ritually prepared during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, especially in the central Indian state of Maharashtra. Ganpati is also known as Modakpriya or one who loves modaks. In Northern India, he is offered ladoos made of chickpea flour which are called boondi ke ladoo. It is said the Goddess Parvati, who is Ganpati’s mother, wanted to satisfy her child with a food which could fill his stomach immediately and that food was modak. As per the scriptures, 21 modaks should be offered to the Lord.
Modaks are very close to the Chinese momos or dumplings which are stuffed with cabbage or in case of non-veg momos, with minced meat. Momos too are steamed and served with dips but modak being a sweetmeat, can be had by itself.
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people (20 pieces)
Ingredients:
Ukadiche Modak Filling
- 1 tbsp – Ghee
- 1 cup – dessicated coconut
- ½ cup – Jaggery grated
- ½ tsp – Green Cardamom powder
- handful – Cashews(chopped)
- handful – pistachios (chopped)
- A pinch – Nutmeg/Jaiphal powder
For Dough
- 1 cup – water
- 1 ¼ – very fine Rice Flour
- Pinch - Salt
- As required - Ghee
Method:
- In a wok or kadai, heat ghee and add dessicated coconut and jaggery powder, saute well
- As the jaggery melts, switch off the flame,
- At this stage, add cardamom powder, chopped dry fruits like cashews and pista, mix well and allow the stuffing or filling to cool
For Dough
- In a pan, heat some water – when it comes to a simmering boil, a pinch of salt, put the rice flour in it, switch off the flame and mix quickly, stirring till it all comes together as a dough, cover it and let it cook in its own vapours
- Knead it well by hand while it is still warm
- Add a bit of ghee on your hand and knead it again
For Modak
- Take a steamer and grease it lightly and also grease the modak mould lightly
- Take bit of dough, keep it in the modak mould, press it well inside the mould and fill in the stuffing and close the mould, press it well and the modak has taken its shape
- Make all the other modaks in a similar way and place in the steamer
- And steam for a 10-12 minutes
To prepare the modak without a mould, take the rice ball in your palm, make a cavity and stuff the filling inside. Then carefully start closing the dough as though folding it as a flower. Bring all the petals together and close at the top. It looks like a closed rose bulb. Once again, put it in the steamer and steam for a few minutes and the modaks are ready to be offered as prasad to Lord Ganpati.
