Recipe: Here's how you can make modaks at home

Ukadiche modak

Ingredients
For stuffing:
1 cup Grated fresh or frozen coconut
1/2 cup Powdered or grated jaggery
1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
1tbsp Poppy seeds
5-6 Chopped cashews
1 tbsp Raisins

For outer covering

1 1/4 cup Water
A pinch of salt
1/4 tsp Ghee 
1 cup Rice flour

Method

First make the sweet stuffing. Take grated coconut in a pan. Turn the heat on medium. Add jaggery. Mix well, the, jaggery will start to melt. Keep stirring and cooking for a couple of minutes. Then add poppy seeds, cardamom powder, cashews and raisins.  Mix well and keep cooking till all the moisture has evaporated. The mixture should be dry. It takes about four to five minutes. Time may vary if you are making bigger batch. Keep the mixture aside and let it cool. Now make the dough for the outer layer. Take water in a saucepan, add a pinch of salt. Turn the heat on medium-low. Let it come to a boil. As it starts boiling, add ghee and mix well. Immediately add rice flour. Quickly stir it using a spatula or a wooden spoon. Make sure there are no lumps. Cover with a lid. Cook for two to three minutes. Do stir once or twice in between. Remove it in a plate. Let it cool to touch. Once it is warm or cool enough to handle. Start kneading the dough. If it feels hot, apply some water on your palm and continue kneading.  Make smooth and lump free dough. Make smooth balls out of it. Grease your hand with oil or ghee or just wet with water, take one ball on your palm. Now using your other hand, slightly press it make the small disc. Now using two hands (thumbs and fingers), gently press it and keep shaping it. Make about three to four inch diameter circle. In the center, add a teaspoon of stuffing. Now using your thumb and first finger, start pinching the little edges and make the pleats. Now carefully pinch it together and seal it. Place on the plate and continue making rest of them. Keep them covered while you shape the rest. Now to steam the modaks, prepare the steamer and let the water come to a boil, meanwhile, brush all the modak using water. Or alternately you can dip them in a glass of water. Steam them for 13-15 minutes on medium heat and serve.

Recipe courtesy Sahil Arora Executive Chef Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel & Lakeside Chalet — Mumbai, Marriott Executive Apartments