The 10-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi festival is a Hindu festival that celebrates Lord Ganesha. This year, the auspicious celebration begins on August 25. Celebrate the festival with delicious modak. Why modak? Lord Ganesha loves sweets, and modak is one of his favourite delicacies. Check out the recipe of this mouth-watering sweet dish.

Serves: 6 modaks, Preparation time: 45 minutes, Cooking time: 30 minutes

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Ingredients:

For outer covering – Rice flour  ½ cup, Water ¾ cup, Pure ghee 1 tsp, Salt a pinch

For filling –

Fresh grated coconut             ½ cup

Green cardamoms                   2 (powdered)

Nutmeg powder                       a pinch

Poppy seeds                               ½ tsp

Jaggery powder                          ½ cup

Pure ghee                                   2 tsp

Method for filling

Heat ghee in a pan. Add poppy seeds, cardamom powder and nutmeg powder. Saute for a minute.

Add grated fresh coconut and saute for two minutes.

Add grated or powdered jaggery. Mix well and cook the mixture on low flame till jaggery starts to melt.

Keep stirring the mixture on low flame till the melted jaggery begins to dry.

Don’t overcook. Turn off the flame.

Keep the filling aside to cool.

Method for outer covering

In a pan add water, oil and salt. Boil it.

Reduce the flame after a boil comes. Add the rice flour gradually stirring quickly so that flour and water get mixed properly without forming lumps.

Switch off the flame. Remove the pan from the stove and cover it with a lid for five minutes.

Now turn the dough onto a big plate and let it cool little so that you can knead it well with your palms when it is warm. Apply some water on your palms while kneading. If the dough is hard, add little warm water and knead more for few minutes.

Roll small balls out of the dough. The balls should be smooth without cracks. Cover them with a kitchen towel for some time.

Take the balls one by one and flatten them to round disks. Place modak filling in the centre.

Press the edges and bring together to join at the top and give the shape of a modak.

Grease a steamer pan with pure ghee. Boil water in it.

Keep all modaks on a greased surface and cover the lid.

Steam modaks for 15-20 minutes on low flame.

Take out modaks from the steamer. Coat with pure ghee and offer to Ganesha.

Lord Ganesha is the symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Prepare this most popular sweet dish as a ritual this Ganesh Chaturthi and gratify the Lord.  Modaks have a lot of importance during the aarti and bhog on this day. May Ganesha bless you all. Ganpati Bappa Morya!