Modak

Modak

Type	Dumpling
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	India
Region or state	Maharashtra
Main ingredients	Rice flour, or wheat and maida flour, coconut, jaggery
Cookbook: Modak  Media: Modak

Modak (Marathi: मोदक) is an Indian sweet dumpling popular in many parts of India. The sweet filling on the inside of a modak consists of freshly grated coconut and jaggery while the outer soft shell is made from rice flour or wheat flour mixed with khava or maida flour.

The modak can be fried or steamed. The steamed version (called ukdiche modak) is often eaten hot with ghee.

Names

It is called modak (मोदक) in Marathi, Konkani and in Gujarati language. Kozhakkatta (കൊഴുക്കട്ട) in Malayalam. modhaka or kadubu in Kannada. modhakam or kozhakkattai in Tamil and kudumu in Telugu.

Religious significance

The modak is the favourite sweet of the Hindu deity, Ganesha. It begets him the moniker modakapriya (one who likes modak) in Sanskrit.

During Ganesh Chaturthi, The puja always concludes with an offering of 21 modaks to Ganesha as prasadam. Modak's made with rice flour shell are often preferred for this purpose, although, wheat shell version are also used. Local businesses outside Ganesh Temple's across India usually sell pre-packed/readymade version of Modak's.

Varieties of modak

Classic Modak

• Ukadiche Modak

These modak's are made of Coconuts and Sugar/Joggery. This variation is especially prepared during the time of Ganesh Festival. These Modak are hand made and cooked in a steamer. They need to be consumed immediately and come under the perishable category.[1][2][3]

• Fried Modak

This modak type is deep fried in oil instead of steaming. Frying makes the modak last longer and have different taste.[4]

Modern Modak

Innovative recipes for modaks have also been created. These include banana nachni modak, motichoor modak and chocolate modak^[5].

• Mava Modak

These Modak are made of Mava or milk solids.

• 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.[6]

• Paneer Modak

The main ingredient is paneer which gives a different taste.

• Motichoor Modak

These are made up with mottichoor.

• Baklava Modak

Steamed rice flour modak stuffed with Baklava filling mixture of nuts, sugar, cinnamon and orange zest.[7]

• 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
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• 
  inner side with vertical cut
• 
  inner side with vertical cut
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See also

• List of dumplings
• List of Indian sweets and desserts
• Maharashtrian cuisine
• Ganesh
• Ganesh Chaturthi
• Mantou
• Mandu
• Manti

References