Modakam | odak

 OM GAM GANAPATHAYE NAMAHA

Modakam / Modak - a steamed sweet dish made with rice base (outer part) and coconut pooran (stuffing) offered to Lord Ganesha on chathurthi days.  The pooran represents the gyan - which symbolically says that man must find his inner self.

Yesterday was Sankashti Chathurthi, so made some modaks for my favourite God. Sankashti Chathurthi falls on the fourth day after a full moon. This day many holds upvas which is believed to clear all obstacles & worries from one's life. However, I didn't keep any upvas or vrath but just offered pooja after making modaks.

Modaks are done in two methods. 1. Steamed 2. Fried. I am now sharing with you the steamed version.

Video Recipe is here:-

Ingridients :-

1. Processed* Rice Flour - 1 cup
2. Water - 1/2 cup
3. A pinch of Salt
4. Ghee or oil
5. Jaggery - 3/4 cup
6. Coconut grated - 1 cup
7. Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
8. Ghee for pooran - 1 tbsp

* Use raw rice or basmati rice. Soak it for 1/2 hour. Drain completely, spread on a clean cloth & let it dry for 10 minutes under fan. Powder it nicely in a mixer. Sieve and use.Or you can buy store brought processed flour also.

Procedure :-

Making pooran

• Dissolve jaggery adding very little water, strain to remove impurities.
• In a pan add the filtered jaggery syrup, cardamom powder, grated coconut, ghee
• keep stirring till the mixture thickens. Let it cool.

 making the rice flour base for outer shell

• Heat a kadai, pour water. Add a pinch of salt and oil / ghee. I used coconut oil as we like that flavour and is also traditional too.
• when the water boils, add the rice flour mix lightly, cover and keep it aside for 10 minutes.
• After 10 minutes, open the lid, knead the dough (dip your hand in water and knead if required) well divide into equal portions

• to make modaks, you can do it traditionally using hands (it needs lot of practice, so don;t give up. Try & succeed. Or you can use the moulds available in the market)
• Keep a  small cup of water + few drops of coconut oil mixed ready to dip your fingers to moist the dough while making modaks.
• Take a ball of flour, make a depression in the centre, and keep pressing till it takes a cup form.

• pinch the sides at equal intervals
• place a spoon of pooran inside. 
• gather the sides to the centre, press and slightly twist to get the modak shape. (this you will easily attain with practice)

• steam it for 10 minutes
• Yummy modak is ready

Tips :

If you don't get a perfect shape, don't give up. You can flatten the ball like a thin disc, keep the pooran and gather the ends to the centre, press, twist. If you don't get the perfect fan shape, you can use the fork, place it on the top sides all around of the prepared modak and then steam it.

Ganpathy Bapa Moriya
Mangal Murti Moriya