Modak
 | |
| Type | Dumpling |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | Maharashtra |
| Main ingredients | Rice flour, or wheat and maida flour, coconut, jaggery |
 Cookbook: Modak  Media: Modak | |
A modak (Marathi: मोदक) is a sweet dumpling popular in Maharashtra, India. It is called modak (मोदक) in Marathi and Konkani as well as Gujarati language, Kozhakkatta (കൊഴുക്കട്ട) in Malayalam, modhaka or kadubu in Kannada, modhakam or kozhakkattai in Tamil, and kudumu in Telugu.
The sweet filling inside a modak is made up of fresh grated coconut and jaggery, while the soft shell is made from rice flour, or wheat flour mixed with khava or maida flour. The dumpling can be fried or steamed. The steamed version, called ukdiche modak, is eaten hot with ghee.
Details
Modaks have a special importance in the worship of the Hindu god Ganesha; modak is believed to be his favorite food, which begets him the moniker modakapriya (the one who likes modak) in Sanskrit. During the Ganesha worship ceremony, known in Maharashtra as Ganesha Chaturthi the puja always concludes with an offering of twenty-one modaks to the deity and as prasadam. Modaks made with rice flour shell are preferred for this purpose, however, wheat shell version are also used. Innovative recipes for modaks have also been created. These include banana nachni modak, motichoor modak[1] and chocolate modak.
Types of Modak
Ukadiche Modak
These Modak are made of Coconuts and Sugar/Gud. This is a very special item made by Indians during the time of Ganesh Festival. There is a special skill-set and preparation required and this comes only by practice. These Modak are hand made and cooked in a pressure cooker. They need to be consumed immediately and come under the perishable category. These are steamed one so called ukadiche modak.
Mava Modak
These Modak are made of Mava
Fried Modak
The modak are deep fried in oil instead of steam which lasts longer and having different taste.[2]
Kesari Modak
The modak of made adding a flavor of Kesar (Saffron).
Mug Dal Modak
The outer layer of modak is made of Mug dal.
Dark Chocolate Modak
These are made of adding Chocolate flavor
Dry Fruit Modak
Dry fruits are been added in the ingredients to get different taste.
Coconut Rose Modak
The additional flavor of rose can be tasted in this modak.[3]
Paneer Modak
The main ingredient is paneer which gives a different taste.
Motichoor Modak
These are made up with mottochoor.
Baklava Modak
Steamed rice flour modak stuffed with Baklava filling mixture of nuts, sugar, cinnamon and orange zest.[4]
Gulkand and Mawa Modak
These are made by dumplings stuffed with gulkamd and mava, steamed and served with rabdi. Modak turns into a dessert.
Gallery
Modak offered in a Ganesh Puja
Modak close up
inner side with vertical cut
inner side with vertical cut
See also
- List of dumplings
- List of Indian sweets and desserts
- Maharashtrian cuisine
- Ganesh
- Ganesh Chaturthi
- Mantou
- Mandu
- Manti
References
| Forms |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Worship | ||
| Ashtavinayaka Temples | ||
| Legends and Texts | ||
| Associated deities | ||
| See also | ||