Saturday, May 21, 2011

Vella Kozhukattai/Sweet Modaks/Steamed Rice Dumplings with Coconut-Jaggery Filling

Lord Ganesha  the most revered, loving & benevolent Deity is widely worshipped across the Hindu Religion. Known to be the destroyer of all evils & obstacles he is invoked first before beginning any work !   
Sankata Hara Chaturthi observed on the fourth day after the full moon as per the Hindu calendar every month is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Literally meaning problem removing, the day is spent by fasting and breaking it later in the evening after puja and offering the neivedhyam of Sweet Modaks /Vella Kozhukattai. These treats are also the main draw on Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated as Ganesha's Birthday that falls in the month of August -September.



The dumplings made of rice flour is filled with poornam which is a delicious blend of jaggery & coconut with cardamom spreading its divine aroma. These dumpling are then steamed for a few minutes before offering to the Lord.




What goes:-


For the Outer covering --

  • Rice Flour - 1 cup
  • Water - 1 to 1 1/4 cup
  • Ghee - 1 tsp
For the Poornam/Filling :-
  • Jaggery - 3/4 cup to taste
  • Grated Coconut - 1 cup
  • Cardamom - 1 to 2 pods

How :-

Prepare the filling first and set aside. For this powder the jaggery well with a rolling pin. Add the grated coconut along with the crushed cardamom to make a sweet mix.
Alternatively, you can melt the jaggery with a tablespoon or two of water over low flame and then add the grated coconut and blend well. I prefer the first method over the alternative  because it saves me time over waiting for the mix to thicken. 
In case over flame, the mix becomes watery, no need to fret add a spoon or two of rice flour. The mix thickens.

    
For the outer cover, add the required water & ghee in a pan and bring it to a boil. Take off flame and add the rice flour slowly and mix well to get a smooth dough. Keep some hot water & flour near by to adjust the dough. If it becomes too sticky add a spoon or two of the flour, alternatively if the mix is dry add the water for a pliable dough.

Assembling the modaks -- Take a lemon sized ball and flatten with greased fingers and make a depression for placing the filling.Put a spoonful of the poornam/filling.


Draw the ends together and shape it like a cone. Finish the rest of the dough in similar manner.


Steam for 10-12 minutes.  After offering them to the Lord, Enjoy !!!!

A peep inside !


This goes to Akila's Celebrate Sweets - Stuffed Sweets

29 comments:

  1. Kozhukattai looks absoulte yumm. My favorite God is Ganesha. My mother used to make this every Friday as offering to god.

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  2. This special dishes made as offerings evoke special memories ~ Ganesha is my favorite deity too and so is his fav sweet,looks very authentic~ especially loved the way you have done the filling !
    US Masala

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  3. Modaks look so delicious and wholesome. This is the excellent offering to the Lord Ganesha. Ganapati Bappa Moriya!

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  4. I love kozhukattais... Awesome filling and a yummy traditional dish...

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  5. A great traditional recipe...love this very much...looks super

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  6. Perfect and yummy! Love the way you've prepared them...

    http://treatntrick.blogspot.com

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  7. This is very delicious and yummy! Looks cute too...

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  8. Perfectly made kozhukattai's Priya...mine always break up while steaming. My MIL makes kozhukkatai for neivedyam in the temple every month and she draws a beautiful kolam too of ganesha with kozhukattai's in hand. Remembering everything by looking at your platter.

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  9. They look so yummy Priya. Hubby's favorite.

    Vardhini
    VardhinisKitchen

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  10. @ raji - that's very sweet of your mil, btw- the modaks tend to crack up and get dry if exposed for a lot of time without cover; so as soon as you assemble them , keep it covered until steaming. This way there won't be seepage of the poornam during steaming !

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  11. That's a nice tip Priya..will do like this...actually now I remember that I keep the modaks open till the time I assemble all of them :(

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  12. Hi Priya, it is a long time since I last visited your blog. The kozhukattai is very pretty. I used to enjoy such sweets during my childhood from my neighbours. Sweet memories... The last pic is very inviting.. :-)

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  13. This is just awesome... All your pics are so clear and delicious looking:) love these little dumplings..
    Reva

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  14. nice job priya! Love the poornam and the last pic with the filling inside the modakam- God bless :)

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  15. Vow delicious modak recipe, clicks are awesome.

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  16. They look simply delicious Priya! We've passed an award on to you, find it at http://kitchengypsies.blogspot.com/p/awards.html

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  17. perfectly made modak's !! looks so delicious!!

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  18. Oh lovely it has come out so very well!

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  19. Perfect kozhukattais,a favorite in our household.

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  20. May Lord vinayaka bless you with no sankatam in life! Yummy kozhakattai's!

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  21. WOuld love to grab and have some rite now, delicious and my fav..

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  22. healthy kozhukattai..one of my favourite at home!!

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  23. Dear Priya, you've got the most amazing combinations! I bet this tastes incredible...

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  24. I love this filling in modaks....I could them any time for sure!

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  25. my most favorite Indian sweet - everyday could be pillayar chaturthi for me:)

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  26. Kozhukkatai looks lovely. Must a try recipe.

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