Modak

Aviri Kudumulu.

Modak is a sweet dumpling made with rice flour. The stuffing is prepared with freshly grated coconut and jaggery. Both are cooked down along with few condiments till the mixture comes together. The mixture is then stuffed in rice flour dough to form modak.
Makes: around 8 Modak.

Ingredients:

Rice Flour 1 Cup
Jaggery 3/4 Cup
Grated Coconut 1 Cup
Salt to taste
Ghee as required

Method of preparation:

Warm up the ghee and keep aside.

Heat a pan on medium heat, add jaggery and a splash of water.
Let all the jaggery start to melt, stir in grated coconut and cardamom powder.
Let the coconut jaggery mixture cook for few more mintues till the mixture feels sticky to the fingers.
Remove the mixture onto a bowl and let it cool completely.

Sieve the rice flour and keep aside.
Bring to boil a cup of water, add salt, a drop of ghee and rice flour.
Remove from heat and mix well with a spatula.
Let the rice flour dough cool a bit.
Knead the rice flour dough into smooth soft but non sticky dough.

Take a lemon sized portion of the rice flour dough and flatten it.
Flatten the edges a little more than the middle part.
Place the disk on palm of the hand and bring the fingers together to form the disk into a cup.
Make pleats more defined and fill the cup with coconut jaggery mixture.
Use ghee to grease the fingers if the rice flour tends to stick to them.
Bring the top part of cup together carefully and seal it.
Repeat the same with remaining rice flour dough.

Steam the prepared modak for 8 – 10 minutes depending on the size of the modak.
Modak looks shiny and little more transparent when cooked.
Let the modak cool a bit before serving with ghee.
Notes: Make sure to get the dough right.

Suggestions: If the rice flour sticks to the fingers, cook it for few more seconds to let evaporate the moisture a bit.
Variations: You can also add saffron, nutmeg or raisins to the coconut jaggery mixture.
Other Names: Modak, Ukadiche Modak, Modakulu, Aviri Kudumulu.