Ukadiche Modak Recipe

Ukadiche Modak Recipe in English

Ukadiche Modak is a traditional Maharashtrian sweet dish made during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. These sweet dumplings are made with rice flour dough and filled with a delicious mixture of coconut and jaggery. Here's a step-by-step recipe to make Ukadiche Modak.

Ingredients

For the Outer Covering:

1 cup of rice flour
1 cup of milk
½ cup of water
1 tsp of sugar
½ tsp of salt
1 tsp ghee (clarified butter)

For the Filling:

2 cups of fresh grated coconut
3/4 cup grated jaggery (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp of poppy seeds
1 tsp ghee

Instructions:

For the Outer Covering:

In a saucepan, add milk and water, add a pinch of salt, 1 tsp of sugar and 1 tsp of ghee.
Boil it well.
Reduce the heat to low and add the rice flour gradually while stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
Cook the mixture on low heat for 1-2 minutes until it comes together to form a dough. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool slightly.
Cover the pan with a lid and rest it for 5 minutes.
Knead the dough while it's still warm until it becomes smooth and pliable. Cover it with a damp cloth and set it aside.

For the Filling:

Roast the poppy seeds in the pan.
Heat 1 tsp of ghee in a pan.
Add the grated coconut and sauté it for a few minutes until it becomes slightly dry and aromatic.
Add the grated jaggery to the coconut and mix well. Cook on low heat until the jaggery melts and the mixture thickens. Stir continuously to prevent burning. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Add Poppy seeds, cardamom powder to the coconut-jaggery mixture. Mix well and turn off the heat. Allow the filling too cool to room temperature.

Assembling the Modaks:

Take a small portion of the rice flour dough and shape it into a small ball. Roll it between your palms to make a smooth ball.
Flatten the ball into a small disc with your fingers, keeping the edges thinner than the center.
Place a spoonful of the coconut-jaggery filling in the center of the disc.
Gently gather the edges of the disc to form pleats and seal the top, giving it a cone shape. Pinch off any excess dough.
Repeat this process to make all the modaks.

Steaming the Modaks:

Prepare a steamer by filling the bottom with water and bringing it to a boil.
Grease the steamer plate or a banana leaf with a little ghee to prevent sticking.
Arrange the modaks on the greased plate or leaf.
Place the plate in the steamer, cover it, and steam the modaks for 10-15 minutes on medium heat.
Once the modaks are cooked and the outer covering becomes translucent, remove them from the steamer and let them cool for a few minutes.

Ukadiche Modak is ready to be served. You can offer them as prasad during Ganesh Chaturthi or enjoy them as a sweet treat on any special occasion.