MODAKAM

The main prasadh made for ganesha festival/ Ganesh chaturthi is modak/modakam. These dumplings are prepared and relished with great enthusiasm all across the country and assume great significance during the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. Every state in India has its own version, many sweet and savory varieties can be prepared as kozhukatta /Modakam. Sweet kozhukkata/Modakam are steamed rice dumplings with coconut and jaggery stuffing. 

INGREDIENTS:

Raw rice - 1 cup

Water as required

Salt - pinch

Ghee - 2 tsp

Grated coconut - 1 cup

Jaggery - 1/2 to 3/4 cup

Cardamom powder - 1tsp

METHOD:

Preparing Outer layer:

1. Soak raw rice in water for 3 hours.

2. Grind this in a mixie into a very nice batter.

3. Let the batter be in the consistency of neer dosa batter.

4. In a pan add ghee, rice batter and pinch of salt.

5. Mix well using a ladle without any lumps.

6. When the water evaporates, the batter comes to a dough consistency. 

7. Switch off the flame and keep the dough covered with a wet cloth.

8. Once it is warm you can start making the modakams.

Preparing Poornam:

9. Heat a pan, add the grated coconut and jaggery.

10. Stir for about five minutes. Add cardamom powder and ghee. Mix well.

11. Cook for another five minutes and keep aside.

Making Modakams:

12. For making modakams, take the dough, add little ghee to the dough and knead well.

13. Make the dough into lemon sized balls and cover it with a wet cloth.

14. Take a dough ball. With you fingers make a small cup out of it and place the poornam in that.

15. Close this and make it into a modakam shape.

16. Do the same for the rest of the dough.

17. Place the modakams in an idly tattu and steam it for 5 to 7 minutes in medium flame.

18. Modakams are ready for neivedhyam.