Monday, August 31, 2009

Modakam & Panchakhadya for ICC-August

Know what you Eat - A modak is a vegan sweet dumpling popular in Central and South India. The sweet filling is made of fresh coconut and jaggery while the shell is of rice floor. The dumpling can be fried or steamed. Modak has a special importance in the worship of the Hindu elephant god, Ganesh as it is believed to be his favorite food.

This posting is for ICC Festival Special August Challenge . This modak recipe from Mints is almost similar to what we make, the only difference being the addition of poppy seeds instead of Bengal gram and Black Sesame seeds. It just turned out great.
Ingredients

Freshly grated Coconut -2 cups
Jaggery grated - 1 cup
Poppy seeds - 1 tbsp
Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
Water - 1 tbsp
For the outer cover
Rice flour - 1 cup
Water - 1 1/4 cup
Salt - pinch
Oil - 1 tbsp

Method

1) Take a pan that has tight fitting lid. Start boiling water in that pan, add salt and oil.

2) When water starts boiling, lower the heat and slowely add rice flour little by little, mixing vigourously with a heavy spoon.

3) Now close the lid and take the pot off the heat. Let the covered pot cool down for 15 minutes or so. Then with wet hands, mix the dough properly. It will warm so be careful and use cold water to keep your hands from burning but do not use too much water.

4) When the dough cools down let us prepare the filling, roastt poppy seeds in a small skillet and let it cool down. Grind it coarsely and keep it aside.

5) In a heavy bottom pan mix all the ingredients for stuffing except poppy seed powder and let it sit for 15 min. Now start heating the mixture over medium heat. In about 10-12 minutes, the mixture starts boiling and stuffing will turn yellowish brown and will be sticky.

6) Take the pan off the heat, add poppy seeds powder and mix well. Set it aside to cool down.

7) Make about 20 balls of the dough and 20 parts of the stuffing. Start making small circles with the dough ball on a oiled paper/aluminum foil. Keep one part of stuffing in the middle of the puri and gather the dough gently to make shape like modak. You will have to handle the dough very gently. Follow the step to make remaining modaks.

8) Now dip each modak in cold water and put it in the oiled steamer. Put the steamer on boiling water and cover it. Let the modaks steam for 20 minutes on medium to high heat. Take the steamer off the vessel and let it sit for 5 minutes before removing modak from steamer.




Panchakhadya






Ingredients

Grated dry coconut - 1 cup
Powdered Sugar - 4-5 tbsp(I used raw brown sugar)
Poppy Sedds - 2 tbsp
Dried dates - 4-5 dried dates
Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
Coarsely powdered mixed nuts (almonds,cashews, pistachios) - 4-5 tbsp
Pinch of nutmeg powder

Method

1. Dry roast grated coconut on a very light heat and set aside
2. Dry roast poppy seeds and grind them coarsely after cooling them for 5 minutes
3. Take the seeds off the dried dates and grind them coarsely as well.
4. Mix all these ingredients and nuts powder, cardamom, nutmeg, powdered sugar together and offer to Ganesha as prasad.
The other dishes i made for this Occassion is already posted and available here.

22 comments:

Divya Kudua said...

Pretty looking Modaks..an even prettier looking Ganesha Idol:)

sangeeta said...

both these recipes are my favorites....coconut n jaggery i can't resist.

Sanghi said...

Delicious modak.. and the picture too looks great!

Renu said...

Wow !! job well done...never dared to make modaks ........now I have ur recipe, I will try it soon

Priya said...

Modak and panchakhadya looks great..Just love that cute bubbly ganesh idol..

lata raja said...

Good ones there. My panchkhadya was on the dry side not like yours. BTW I'm trying your Dhal dhokli today will let you know the outcome.

Sush said...

gr8 going dear.., enjoii the ICC.

Parita said...

Modak's look perfect!

Nandini said...

Wow! Modaks are exceptional! Awesome snaps!

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

lovely snaps... Looks so yum...

rekhas kitchen said...

simply superb pic. nice choice of recipes yum.

Priti said...

The Idol is very cute....and yummy offering..u gals r rocking

RAKS KITCHEN said...

Looks nice,mouthwatering :)

Mythreyi Dilip said...

Both the recipes are yummy.....

Veggie Belly said...

Your modakams bring back so many memories! Its one of my favorite things :) I didnt know it has poppy seeds. Thanks for this recipe, I'll be making this soon (cant wait for a religious reason to make it!)

chakhlere said...

Both are my favorite prasads!!
Looks yummy!!

Andhra Flavors said...

Delicious modak.The picture too looks great with beautiful ganesh.

Uma said...

Both the dishes look so yummy :)

Ashwini said...

There is a award waiting for u.. PLs checkout my blog!!!

Mythreyi Dilip said...

Got an award for u, plz accept it dear:)

iRaw said...

Looks delicious!

Tina said...

Yummy and delicious...

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