Ukadiche Modak /Sihi kadubu / Sweet rice flour dumplings with coconut filling

Why Lord Ganpati Loves Modak??

It is believed that once when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati along with Lord Ganesha visited Anusuya, who was the wife of an ancient Rishi (sage) named Atri, at her home in the forest. Lord Shiva and Ganpatiji were way too hungry. While Lord Shiva waited for Anusuya to serve food, she refused and asked him to wait till Bal Ganesh's hunger was satiated. Controlling his hunger, Lord Shiva waited while Anusuya served varieties of delicacies to the child. A voracious eater, Ganpati ate all that he was served and asked for more and more. Everyone was astonished to see his insatiable hunger.

Finally, Anusuya realized that these foods wouldn't fill his stomach so she decided to make something sweet. She gave him a piece of sweet and once he ate the sweet, Ganesh burped loudly. That's when his stomach was full and he no longer felt hungry. Interestingly, the moment Ganesh burped, Lord Shiva also burped not once but 21 times. Both of them simultaneously claimed that they were full and did not want any more food. Goddess Parvati later asked Anusuya about the sweet she had served, that's when she got to know about MODAK. Goddess Parvati then expressed a wish that devotees of Ganpati will always offer 21 modaks to him. 

The story may or may not be true but we are thankful for the creation of such a wonderful delight - MODAK!!!!

Ingredients

2 cups fine rice flour
2 tsp ghee
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup jaggery
2 cups fresh grated coconut ( i have used  Frozen coconut)
1/4 tsp cardamom powder
1/4 tsp Poppy Seeds
2 tsp Dry fruit powder
A pinch of nutmeg powder
1/4 tsp saffron
2 cups Water

Method

1.In a medium pot, bring 2 cups of water to boil. Add 2 tsp ghee and salt. Turn the heat to low and add the rice flour. Mix it well with a spoon. Cook covered for 5 mins on low heat.Turn the heat off and transfer the dough to a plate.

2.To make the stuffing, grate the jaggery . In a heavy bottom pan gently roast the coconut on medium heat for 2 minutes. Add jaggery, saffron, poppy seeds,nutmeg powder and cardamom powder and cook on low heat for another 5 minutes. Mix well and keep aside.

3.Knead the rice dough using 1 tsp of ghee and 2-4 tablespoon of warm water for 5 mins until the dough is soft and moist.Cover with wet towel to keep it moist.Dough wil not get dry by doing this.

4.Apply little ghee on the inside of the mold. Close the mold and spread the rice dough inside the mold and start shaping it around gently with your fingers.Some of the dough will also come outside of the mold which will be used to seal the modak. Gently put about 1 tsp of stuffing inside the mold. Seal the bottom with the extra dough that is outside of the mold. Gently open the mold and put the modak in a steaming rack. Repeat and make remaining modak.

5.Heat 1 cup of water in a pot. Once all the modak are ready, put the steaming rack inside the  pot  and cook covered for 10 mins on low to medium heat. Turn the heat off, let the modak cool for 5 mins. Gently remove them from the steaming rack to a plate and add generous amount of ghee on it. Enjoy!