Sweet Modak (Kozhukattai)

Hi... Sorry for posting this after two weeks of Ganesh Chaturthi... But I was so held up that I could not post it at that time. I made these & came out to be very tasty on Ganesh Chaturthi. This is especially for those who do not know how to make modaks. It is very simple recipe taught by my Chachi (Chitti) Radha.. who is one of my inspirations to cook..

This can also be made during Navarathri especially on Saraswathi Poojai which falls on the 9th day of the Navarathri Festival.

Ingredients:

For Stuffing:

Grated Fresh Coconut - 1 cup
Grated Jaggery - 3/4 cup
Cardamom Powder - a generous pinch

For Dough:

Rice Flour - 1 cup
Water - 1/2 cup
Milk - 1 tsp
Salt - a pinch
Oil - as needed

Method:

1. For preparing the stuffing, heat a heavy bottom pan, add Coconut & jaggery
2. Keep stirring till the jaggery melts & combines well with coconut. Saute till both are mixed well & forms a lump. Add Cardamom powder & remove from heat to let it cool. Make 10 to 15 small balls from it.
3. For preparing dough, boil water in a pan rigorously, take a tbsp. of rice flour & mix with 2 tbsp. of boiling water separately in a bowl.
4. Add this mix to boiling water to prevent lumps when you add entire portion of rice flour (This tip was given by my Chachi!!)
5. Add the entire portion of rice flour gradually while stirring it continuously.
6. Stir until Thick lump is formed. Let the rice flour mix cool
7. Dab some oil on your palms & knead the rice dough
8. Make 10 to 15 small balls, make small cups out of those balls & stuff the prepared coconut stuffing, thereby, making modaks.
9. Steam those modaks for 10 mins in a bamboo steamer/idly cooker

Tips:

• Step no. 4 is very important to avoid lumps in the rice flour dough.
• Measurement of Rice Flour to water is 2:1.