Modak/kozukattai/pundi

Recipe by Preethi baliga

Ganesh chaturthi is incomplete without Modak.It is very famous sweet specially prepared during Ganesh chaturti,mostly prepared in maharashtra and in some southern parts of india.There are 2 types of Modak one is deep fried modak and one is steamed rice dumpling or ukdiche modak people the name may change from region to region.People of maharashtra call it Modak and in kerala it is known as kozukattai , in manglore bunt community people call it pundi and we konkani's call it oondi.You can stuff this modak with different fillings of your choice

Ingredients

• 2 cups Rice flour 
• 3 cups Water
• 2tbsp Maida
• 2tbsp Oil
• 1 1/2 cups Fresh coconut gratings
• 1/2 cup Jaggery ( powdered)
• 1/2tsp Cardamom powder

Cooking Directions

1. Method for filling:
2. Heat a pan ,add jaggery and 1/4 cup water and boil till jaggery dissolves completely.
3. Now add grated coconut and cardamom powder and cook till mixture becomes completely dry and keep aside.
4. Method of making kanaka/outer layer:
5. In a pan,add 3 cups of water and boil it with salt,maida and oil.Add rice flour to this and let it simmer for 5 mins,switch off the flame,cover and keep for 5 mins.
6. After 5 minutes mix it well with a wooden spoon and knead the dough when it still warm( kneadable with bare hands )so there are no lumps and it is nice and smooth dough.
7. To prepare the Modak:
8. Divide the dough into lemon - sized balls,flattern them with a roll pin and fill them up with the coconut - jaggery mixture and try to shape them like garlic bulb ( you can use modak mould which is easily available in the market )
9. When all the modaks are ready,grease and idli stand with ghee or oil and place modaks and steam for 10 mins like how we steam idlis.
10. Serve hot with ghee on top

Note: Here i have prepared two different shaped modaks because in Kerala, Tamil nadu and Mangalore people prepare round ball shaped dumplings where as in Maharashtra they make this garlic shaped dumplings.You can even prepare this as samosas using samosa mould for a change.