Ukadiche Modak!!

Ukadiche Modak is another popular Maharashtrian sweet dish. Ukadiche Modak means "Steamed Modak". This Ukadiche Modak is made specially on Ganesh Chaturthi. Ukadiche Modak is also known as Lord Ganpati's favorite food. We offer this Modak to lord Ganesha as Naivaidya/ Prasad. In this Ukadiche Modak outer cover is made with Rice flour and the stuffing is made with coconut, Jaggery and sesame seeds.

Ingredients:
For the Saaran (stuffing):
1 1/2 cup grated coconut
1 cup grated Jaggrey
1/3 Cup Sesame Seeds
1 Teaspoon cardamom powder

For the Outer Cover:
1 cup water
1 cup rice flour
1 Tablespoon Ghee
Pinch of salt.

Method For Saaran/ Stuffing:

First roast the sesame seeds till it turns light brown and grind it coarsely. In a hot pan, add 2 tablespoon ghee. Add coconut, saute it for 2 - 3 minutes. Add jaggery, saute till jaggery melts. Add cardamom powder and mix well. Turn off the heat and keep it aside.

For the outer cover:

In a vessel, add 1 cup of water. Add 1 tablespoon ghee, pinch of salt. Let it boil. Once water starts boiling, turn off the heat and add rice flour and mix well. While mixing make sure there are no lumps in the mixture. Cover this mixture. Keep it aside for 6 - 8 minutes.

To Make Modak:
Take the mixture and knead into the dough.
Take 1 tablespoon ghee on to palm and grease it. Take a small portion of dough and make a small ball. Press the ball little bit and start giving the shape of bawl with the help of thumb. Make a small bowl/cup shape. Do not make it very thin or very thick. Add stuffing. Now slowly fold the cup sides with the help of thumb and one finger. Make small 8 - 9 plates on the edges of the cup.
Once plates are done, bring them together with circular motion. Seal it and keep it on a plate. Make all Modak and keep it aside.

Modak Steaming:
Heat 2 - 3 cups water in a big vessel. Once water starts boiling, put a small pot/bowl in the middle of the vessel. Now place the steamer, put wet cotton cloth on the steamer. Place all Modak on cotton cloth, cover the Modak with leftover cotton cloth. Put the cover and let it steam for 8 - 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, wait for 2 - 4 minutes. Remove the Modaks from steamer. Serve it hot.

Ukadiche Modak is ready!!

Tips:
You can use any kind of steamer to steam the Modak.