Fried Modak
Fried Modak is a sweet dumpling stuffed with coconut and jaggery. Highly popular in Maharashtra on Ganesh Chaturthi. It is considered to be one of the favorite foods of the deity Ganeshji.
Ingredients
- ½ cup All Purpose Flour / Maida
- ¼ cup Sooji
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 pinch Salt
- 2 tbsp Milk
- Water if required
- 1 cup Coconut Powder
- ½ cup Grated Jaggery
- ¼ tsp Cardamom Powder
- 8-10 Roasted Cashewnuts
- Oil for Deep Frying
Instructions
To make stuffing:
- Heat a pan on medium heat, add the grated jaggery and cook till it melts, stirring occasionally.
- Add coconut powder and cardamom powder. Mix well till it is mixed evenly and is a bit dry. (approx 3-4 minutes)
- Finally add cashewnuts. The stuffing is ready. Keep aside to cool.
To make outer cover:
- Mix maida, sooji and salt in a bowl. Add a tbsp of oil and mix it well with the help of fingertips.
- Now add milk and knead it to a smooth but firm dough. It should not be soft. (Add water if needed).
- Cover the dough with damp cloth and let it rest for 15 mins.
- Again knead the dough and divide it into 12 equal portions
To make modaks:
- Roll each portion into small puris of around 4 inch diameter. (for crispy modaks the puri should be thin).
- Now place spoonful of stuffing over the puri. Fold the edges (with the finger and thumb pinching) and gather them in the center. Seal it properly.
- Do the same for all the modaks.
- Heat oil in a kadai and deep fry the modaks on medium heat. (The oil should not be too hot as the modak can get burnt and will remain uncooked from inside.)
- Stir them at regular interval to make sure that they are cooked and becomes golden brown and crisp from all sides.
- Remove them from oil and let them cool completely before serving.
- Store them in an air tight container.