The festival of Ganesh Utsav is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion throughout the country including Maharashtra. During this time, grand Ganpati pandals are decorated at various places and people also welcome Lord Ganesha in their homes with drums. During the puja, various types of dishes are offered to Bappa.

It is believed that Lord Ganesha is very fond of Modak. This is the reason why Modak is considered to have special importance in Ganpati Puja. On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, you can make traditional dishes of Maharashtra at home. Ukadiche Modak You can try the recipe.

The outer layer of Ukdiche Modak is made from rice flour, while the inside is filled with a sweet stuffing of coconut and jaggery. After steaming, its taste and texture becomes very special. Let us know the easy method of making it.

Ingredients for making Ukadiche Modak

for stuffing

• 1 tbsp ghee
• ½ tbsp poppy seeds
• 5-6 chopped cashews
• 5-6 chopped almonds
• 3 cups grated coconut
• a pinch of salt
• 1½ cups jaggery
• ¼ tsp nutmeg powder
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder

For the outer layer of modak

• 1½ cups water
• ½ cup milk
• a pinch of salt
• 1 tbsp ghee
• 1 tablespoon sago flour
• 2 cups fine rice flour
• A little ghee, as needed

for garnishing

• a little saffron soaked in milk
• Silver work, as desired

First prepare coconut-jaggery stuffing.

To make the stuffing, heat ghee in a pan. Add poppy seeds, chopped cashews and almonds and fry lightly.

Now add grated coconut to it and fry on low flame for about 4-5 minutes. After this add jaggery, mix well and cook the mixture till the jaggery melts.

Cook the mixture for about 4-5 minutes more, so that the excess moisture present in it reduces. Finally add cardamom and nutmeg powder and mix well. Turn off the gas and leave the stuffing to cool.

Prepare the dough for the outer layer of Modak like this

Put water and milk in a pan and heat it. Add salt and ghee in it. After this add sago flour and rice flour and mix well.

Cover the mixture and cook on low flame for about 5 minutes. After this let it cool down a bit. Apply some ghee on your hands and knead the mixture well and prepare a soft dough.

How to make Ukadiche Modak

Now make small lemon sized balls from the prepared dough. Apply some rice flour on a circle and roll it like a small puri.

Place the prepared coconut-jaggery stuffing in the middle of the puri. Leave some space at the edges, so that the modak can be closed easily.

Now make small pleats on the edges of the puri with the help of your fingers. Close the modak tightly by slowly bringing all the pleats upwards.

Similarly prepare all the modaks. A little saffron soaked in milk can be applied over the prepared modak.

Now place them in a steamer and steam them thoroughly. After the modaks are cooked, take them out carefully. If you wish, apply silver work on top and offer it to Lord Ganesha.

On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, these traditional homemade Ukdicha Modaks can be a delicious option for both puja and prasad.