SWEET MODAKAM

Kozhakattai or Modakam is a nivedyam for Lord Ganesha on Ganesh Chathurthy. This sweet dish a favorite for many! In this blog, I've tried a different poornam, made with dal, unlike the traditional one with coconut. Try out this recipe. 

Modakam consists of an outer base with a sweet or savoury filling inside ,

INGREDIENTS FOR MODAKAM BASE

Good quality raw rice                               - 3 cups

Water                                                        - 2 cups

Gingelly oil                                               - 2 tbsps

Salt                                                            - a pinch

To prepare the dough :

Wash & soak 3 cups of raw rice for one hour .

Drain the rice & spread over a cloth to absorb the water.

Mix one tsp of gingelly oil with the rice & powder it finely in a mixie .

Sieve the powdered rice & measure 2 cups of the rice powder .

Boil 2 cups of water in  a thick bottomed pan , when it starts boiling in a medium flame  add rice powder , 1 tbsp of gingelly oil , a pinch of salt & stir briskly .

When it comes like a lump , remove from fire .

Allow the dough to cool for sometime & pour one tbsp of oil & knead the dough well & keep it covered in a wet cloth .

 INGREDIENTS FOR SWEET FILLING.

Fresh coconut                                                  - 2 cups grated

Jiggery                                                             - 1 cup

Cardamom ( elaichi )                                       - 5-6 powdered .

Ghee                                                                 - 4 tbsps

METHOD :

Grate only the white portion of a fresh coconut .

Measure 2 cups & blend for one minute in a mixie .

Heat jiggery in a frying pan with ½ cup of water .

When the jiggery has melted strain it through a strainer & again boil it .

When it boils add the grated coconut 2 tbsps of ghee & powdered cardamom .

Stir it well from the bottom & cook till it leaves the sides of the pan .

When cooled , make  small lemon sized balls & use as filling.

VARIATION FOR SWEET FILLING 

INGREDIENTS :

Moong dal                                        - ¼ cup

Channa dal                                        - ¼ cup

Toovar dal                                         - ¼ cup

Grated fresh coconut                         - ½ cup

Jiggery                                               - ½ cup

Soak dals in water separately for 10 minutes .

Pressure cook separately with little water , for 3 whistles .Do not overcook .

If there is extra water, drain it & mash the dal with the spoon .

In a  mixer   just beat the cooked dal , jiggery  , coconut & cardamom powder .

Do not run the mixer for too long .

If the mixture  watery , heat a a tbsp of ghee in a pan , & cook the mixture for  five minutes .

The mixture will become firm .

When cooled make lemon sized balls & use for filling .

TO MAKE MODAKAM 

Take a lemon sized ball of the dough & rollit between 2 sheetsof polythene to a 5 cms round .( this also can be done with the hand by making the dough to a small katori shape .) ( OR ) modakam moulds can also be used .

Gently remove one sheet of polythene  sheet , keep one tbsp of the filling ( sweet or savoury ) in the centre .

Bring the edges to the centre & shape them like a modak .

Use all the dough  -fillings in the same manner & steam for about 15 minutes .