Modak

Ingredients:

For the Outer Dough:

• 1 cup rice flour
• 1 cup water
• A pinch of salt
• 1 tsp ghee (clarified butter)

For the Sweet Filling:

• 1 cup grated coconut (fresh or desiccated)
• 1/2 cup jaggery (grated or chopped)
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• A pinch of nutmeg powder (optional)
• 2-3 tbsp chopped nuts (like almonds or cashews) (optional)

Instructions:

For the Outer Dough:

1. In a saucepan, heat water and a pinch of salt. Add ghee to it and bring it to a boil.
2. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and add the rice flour all at once. Quickly stir the mixture.
3. Continue to cook and stir the mixture until it forms a smooth dough and leaves the sides of the pan. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
4. Turn off the heat and allow the dough to cool slightly. Knead it well when it's still warm to make it smooth and pliable. Cover it with a damp cloth to keep it from drying out.

For the Sweet Filling:

1. Heat a pan on medium heat and add the grated coconut and jaggery.
2. Stir continuously until the jaggery melts and combines with the coconut. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
3. Add cardamom powder, nutmeg powder (if using), and chopped nuts (if using). Mix well and cook for another 2 minutes. The mixture should be sticky and well combined.
4. Remove the sweet filling from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.

Shaping and Assembling:

1. Take a small portion of the dough and shape it into a smooth ball.
2. Flatten the ball with your fingers to form a small disc. You can also use a rolling pin to make it thinner.
3. Place a spoonful of the sweet filling in the centre of the disc.
4. Fold the edges of the disc to cover the filling and pinch them together to form a modak shape. You can make pleats at the top to give it a traditional look.

Steaming:

1. Place the shaped modaks in a greased steamer or on a greased plate/tray.
2. Steam the modaks for about 12-15 minutes until they become slightly translucent and glossy.
3. Remove the modaks from the steamer and let them cool slightly. Add a dollop of ghee (backlink) before serving.

Your delicious homemade modaks are ready to be offered to Lord Ganesha or enjoyed as a sweet treat with your family and friends!