Ukadiche Modak Recipe-Ganesh Chaturthi Special
A modak (Marathi: मोदक, Modaka) is a sweet dumpling popular in Western and Southern India. The sweet filling inside a modak is made up of fresh grated coconut and jaggery, while the soft shell is made from rice flour, or wheat flour mixed with khava or maida flour. The dumpling can be fried or steamed. The steamed version, called ukdiche modak, is eaten hot with ghee.
These modaks were made using the Modak Moulds from Me Festive. You can buy them here.
Modak has a special importance in the worship of the Hindu god Ganesh; modak is his favorite food, which begets him the monicker modakapriya (the one who likes modak) in Sanskrit. Ganesha Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is the Hindu festival celebrated on the occasion of birthday of Lord Ganesha .During Ganesh Chaturthi, the puja always concludes with an offering of modaks to the deity and as prasad.
As a child I remember Mom making ukadiche modak as prasad for Ganesh Chaturthi. We worship Gauri Ganpati every year at home during Ganesh Utsav.That time my job was only to eat them:) This time I decided to make it as a offering for Ganpati at my place. It was an amazing experience. I adapted this recipe from Madhuras Recipes
Being a mumbaite, Ganesh Utsav has been always close to heart. The festive season begins from Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesh mandapas (pandals) in every locality, the sound of dhols and arti, all types of sweets, installation of the Ganesh statues in colorfully decorated homes, friends and relatives visiting, etc there are so many things which I miss about Ganesh Chaturthi. But no worries.. place doesn’t matter…even though I am in US, it doesn’t stop me from celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with same zeal, belief and enthusiasm:)
Video Recipe of using Ukdiche Modak with Mould
Ingredients
To make ukad
2 cup Rice Flour
4 tsp Glutinous rice flour
(You will get it in Japanese market)
2 cup of water
pinch of Salt
2 tsp Ghee
To make stuffing
2 cup shredded Coconut
2 cup Jaggery
4 tbsp Poppy seeds
Cardamom powder
Roasted cashewnuts and raisins
Method
To make ukad
Mix rice flour and glutinous flour well and seive 2 to 3 times.
Boil water, to that add pinch of salt and tsp of ghee and pour rice flour and mix well.Cover with damp cloth and keep for 10 mts.
To make stuffing
In a pan, roast the poppy seeds.
Once they are roasted well add the shredded coconut and jaggery. Mix everything well.
Finally add cardamom powder and cashewnuts. The stuffing is ready.
To make modak
Take ukad, wet hands with water as well as some oil and knead ukad in soft dough.
Now start to pat ball in to small bowl size shape, now stuff filling and start to make plates around stuffing.
Gather all plates at the center of stuffing and try to seal edges. Keep the modaks covered with a wet cloth as they can dry out.
Heat up 1 inch of water in Idly cooker, put one small round pot, over that place small thali or chalni. On top of the chalni place a banana leaf.
Now place modak on the banana leaf, leaving enough space around each modak.
Steam for 10 mts over medium heat.
Modak are ready to be served:)
Looks so beutiful…Modek was so yummy but presenting it all with Ganeshji and your photography skill adds a full traditiional flavor to it…post these pics in some International level recipe competition..really ..amazing..
Thanks Shital:)
MIND-BLOWING WORK ANI !!! I 2ND THE PREVIOUS COMMENT UR CAPTURE ADDING A EXTRA TOUCH 4 THE FLAVOR OF INDIA !!! LORD GANAPATHY IDOL S REMARKABLE !!!!
Thanks Kabi!
They Look perfect!! Pls post some to Australia..
How abt you coming to California:)? I can serve you hot:)
lovely post and beautiful pics. i too miss the fun, frolic, colors and sounds of the ganesh chaturthi festival in mumbai. wish you & your family a happy ganesh chaturthi.
Thanks Dassana…I agree nothing can beat Mumbai in Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations:)
Awesome clicks. This is the first time I have been on your blog. You have an awesome space. Happy to follow you.
Thanks Srimathi:)
lovely pics 🙂 feel like making modak right away !! any navaratri recipe coming up !!
Hey Smita..thank u so much…yup will surely make a couple of them..let me knw if you wana know any specific recipe
That looks so yummy! I’ve never had any type of modak before, I will try this recipe out for sure. I can’t wait! …I have a question regarding the plate. What’s in it? Is the plate of food offered to Sri Ganesha? Could you please tell me the kinds of foods to serve to Sri Ganesha? Would it be also okay to serve his parents/gods and goddesses the same types of foods? Also does Ganesh have a favorite drink? I would really like to know because currently I’m only offering bananas and I would love to serve them a proper meal. You would help me out a great deal because I haven’t got the slightest clue what to serve him. Please kindly help!