Ukadiche Modak

(Recipe contributed by my mother. This is my 'one & only' favourite maharashtrian sweet dish.)

Photographed By: Rohit Khadilkar

Find my recipe posted on SpiceWok, Pune http://www.spicewok.com/recepie_detail.php?id=334&cuisine=Ganapati%20Modaks

For the covering

1½ cup Rice Flour

1 cup Water

2 tsp Ghee (clarified butter)

A pinch of Salt

For the filling

1½ cup grated Coconut

1 cup Jaggery

1 tsp Poppy Seeds, roasted

1 tsp Cardamom Powder

For the filling

Mix grated coconut & jaggery together and keep aside for 10 mins

In a pan add this mixture and on a low flame cook it until jaggery melts

Add cardamom powder and roasted poppy seeds

Filling is ready, keep aside to cool

For the covering

Boil 1 cup water, add ghee to it

Add rice flour to boiling water and miz well stirring continuously so that no lumps are formed

Add salt, mix well and cook covered for 2-3 mins

Remove from heat and knead well for 5-10 minutes into a soft flour when its hot

This dough is called Ukad and hence the name!

Method for making Modaks

Divide the dough into small balls

Roll each ball to size of puris

Place this on the palm and add some filling to it

Bring together the ends in form of plates and form a tip and seal

Repeat the procedure for rest of the modaks

Put these modaks in a thin muslin & place this in a steamer/cooker without a whistle and steam for 15-20 mins.

Serve hot modaks with Ghee.