Ukadiche Modak is a Maharashtrian delicacy prepared on the occassion of Ganesh Chaturthi ( Ganpati Festival ). It is coconut jaggery filling in steamed rice flour.Ukad is the outer cover made with steamed rice flour. Filling is made with coconut & jaggery flavoured with cardamom served with homemade melted ghee. Modak petals are work of intricate art. The most beautiful Modak is the one with higher number of petals.
Ingredients
For the cover
2 Cups Rice flour
2 1/4 cup water
1 tsp ghee
A Pinch of Salt
For the filling
2 cups freshly grated coconut
1 cup jaggery
1 tsp ghee
5-6 twigs of saffron
1/2 tsp Cardamom powder Filling
Take a pan & heat water till it boils.Then add 1tsp ghee & pinch of salt to it. Turn off the heat & add the rice flour. Mix it well. Cover & keep aside for 5 mins.
Special Tip-Knead the ukad with some water when it is still warm.Use water little at a time.Use oil only if needed. The ukad should be knead till the time it is very soft so that when you press with finger, it should easily be pressed. Keep kneading till the dough becomes very soft to be mould into modak shape. The ukad is soft enough there will not be any cracks when the modak takes shape
To make the modak cover, knead the rice flour when it is still warm.It should be soft & knead it well so that it does not form cracks.
Now to make the filling.Take another pan.When the pan is hot put 1 tsp ghee to it. Mix the grated coconut, jaggery & pinch of salt. Make sure to keep the flame low to avoid the coconut mixture from burning.When the jaggery melts turn off the heat. Allow it to cool & then add cardamom powder & saffron twigs.
Divide them into small 10-12 portions .Take one portion at a time. Dip thumb in ghee & press in the centre to make a hallow bowl shape. Make this shape as thin as possible so that the covering of the modak is thin.
To make petals for the modak, place the rice bowl in between index & the middle finger & gently press the edges with the thumb.
Now fill it with the coconut mixture generously. Slowly close the mouth of the modak by bringing it in the centre.
The modaks are now ready to be steamed. Steamer or pressure cooker without the whistle can be used for this purpose. Grease the pan with ghee. Dip the base of the modak in water & gently place in the steamer plate. Steam them for 10-12 minutes. Serve them with ghee !!
