Ukdiche Modak

Ukdiche Modak (translated to sweet rice flour coconut and jaggery dumplings) are Lord Ganesha’s favorite food. Naturally, when he visits our homes during the 10 days of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, we make some for him. This is my version (there are as many versions as there are Maharashtrian households)

Recipe makes 12 Modak- if you double them, make the dough in batches. This dough is unworkable once it’s cold.

Filling

Heat 2 tbsp ghee, add 1 6 oz packet of grated frozen coconut (Birds eye is the only one I use- it tastes just like fresh coconut)

Roast coconut till it turns slightly dry

Add 1/8 cup of jaggery (unprocessed sugar-available in the Indian store or online), ½ tsp of ground cardamom and 1/8 cup chopped cashews.

(You can add poppy seeds, raisins, saffron and use 1/8 cup of sugar in place of the jaggery if needed)

Cook for 5 minutes on low heat and cool completely

Ukad or dumpling dough:

Boil 1 cup water with 1tsp salt and 1 tsp ghee.

Add 1 cup rice flour, mix

Remove from heat and cover for 2 min

Knead on medium in your stand mixer for 3 minutes

Divide into 12 pieces. Make dumplings in Modak shape with 2 tsp of filling in each Modak

Steam for 10 min.

Delicious with more ghee or coconut chutney