Making Modak at home is a delightful treat, especially during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi. Here’s a simple step-by-step recipe to prepare perfect Modaks:
Ingredients:
For the outer covering (rice flour dough):
1 cup rice flour
1 cup water
1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
A pinch of salt
For the filling (coconut and jaggery filling):
1 cup grated fresh coconut
3/4 cup jaggery (grated or chopped)
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
A few saffron strands (optional)
1 tablespoon ghee
Instructions:
- Prepare the filling:
Heat a pan on medium flame and add 1 tablespoon ghee.
Add the grated coconut and sauté for 2-3 minutes until it turns slightly golden.
Add jaggery and mix well. Cook until the jaggery melts completely and blends with the coconut.
Add cardamom powder and saffron strands (if using) and stir well. Let the mixture cook for another 2-3 minutes until it becomes slightly thick.
Once done, set the mixture aside to cool.
- Prepare the outer dough:
Boil 1 cup of water in a pan. Add a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon ghee.
Slowly add the rice flour while stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
Keep stirring until the mixture thickens and starts to come together as a dough. This may take around 4-5 minutes.
Once the dough is thick and smooth, cover it and let it cool down slightly (for about 5 minutes).
Once it is cool enough to handle, knead the dough for 2-3 minutes until it becomes smooth and pliable.
- Shape the Modaks:
Grease your hands with a little ghee to make handling easier.
Divide the dough into small lemon-sized balls.
Flatten each ball into a small disc, using your fingers or a rolling pin.
Place a spoonful of the coconut-jaggery filling in the center of each disc.
Carefully fold the edges of the disc upwards, pinching them together at the top to form a cone-like shape. You can shape them using your hands or use a Modak mold for perfect shapes.
- Steam the Modaks:
Grease a steamer plate or a parchment paper and place the Modaks on it.
Steam the Modaks in a steamer or pressure cooker for about 10-12 minutes. (If using a pressure cooker, do not put the weight/whistle on the lid.)
Steam until the Modaks turn shiny and firm.
- Serve:
Once steamed, let the Modaks cool for a few minutes before serving.
You can drizzle a little ghee on top before serving for an extra rich flavor.
Enjoy your homemade, delicious Modaks!
Tips:
Ensure the rice flour dough is not too dry; it should be soft and pliable.
For a variation, you can add dry fruits like cashews or almonds to the filling.
If you don’t have a steamer, you can also steam Modaks in a large pot by placing a trivet or stand at the bottom and covering it with a lid.