About:

Lord Ganesh loves little steamed dumplings so during ganesh chaturthi varieties of modak is made. Modak is a steamed  sweet dumpling made up of rice flour shells filled with a succulent mixture of jaggery and coconut.

Here in this recipe I have used cocoa powder along with rice flour to make shells just to give a chocolate tinge and made filling  sugar free by adding dates molasses with  and spices for the flavour.

Yields-10-12 modaks
Preparation time-30-40 minutes
Cooking time-10 minutes

Ingredients:

For filling:

• Grated coconut-1cup
• Dates molasses-1/4cup (I used 3tbsp)
• Nutmeg powder-a pinch
• Cinnamon powder-a pinch
• Cardamom powder-a big pinch

For the shell:

• Rice flour-1cup
• Cocoa powder-1tbsp
• Salt-pinch
• Water-1cup
• Olive oil spread-1tbsp+ for brushing/kneading

Procedure:

• Heat a pan add grated coconut, dates molasses and stir for about 5-7minutes.
• Add nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon powder mix well and continue to cook for another 5-7minutes and keep aside.

For shell:

• In a deep dish, boil water with 1tbsp olive spread.
• In a bowl sieve rice flour, cocoa powder, salt mix well and keep aside.
• As the water comes to boil reduce the flame and add flour, salt mix well.
• Cover the dish and continue to cook till it half done (approx. 4-5minutes)
• Once heated through turn off the flame and keep it covered and set aside for 5-7minutes.

For modak:

• Grease some olive spread on the base of a steel bowl and while the dough is still hot, knead it well by greasing your hand with some spread and divide into equal portions and roll to a smooth balls in between your palms.
• Now take one portion at a time and flatten it well, shape the edges into a flower pattern.
• Fill a spoonful of filling onto the dough and seal it and place in a
• In a steamer heat sufficient water and  place modaks on a perforated plate and steam for 8-10minutes.
• Once steamed remove from the steamer and allow it to cool a bit and serve hot/warm.

Note:

• Preferably fresh coconut add flavour and taste if not handy desiccated coconut can be used.
• Sweet can be altered as per the taste.
• By adding cocoa I didn’t feel any bitter taste in my modak,, if so can include 1-2tbso of sweetner while making the dough.