28 MODAK AND PANCHAKHADYA - Indian Cooking Challenge

The challenge for the August month had 6 recipes out of which we had prepare at least two. I chose Modak and Panchakhadya.

Recipe for Panchakhadya


1 cup grated dry coconut
4-5 tbsp powdered sugar
2 tbsp poppy seeds
4-5 dried dates (Maharashtrians call it kharik)
1/2 tbsp cardamom powder
4-5 tbsp coarsely powdered mixed nuts (almonds,cashews, pistachios)
pinch of nutmeg powder

Procedure -
1. Dry roast grated coconut on a very light heat and set aside
2. dry roast poppy seeds and grind them coarsely after cooling them for 5 minutes
3. take the seeds off the dried dates and grind them coarsely as well.
4. Mix all these ingredients and nuts powder, cardamom, nutmeg, powdered sugar together and offer to Ganesha as prasadam

**************************************************************** Modak


Stuffing -
2 cups freshly grated coconut (can use frozen unsweetened coconut)
1 cup jaggery (grated)
1 tbsp poppy seeds
1 tsp cardamom powder
one pinch nutmeg (optional)
2 tbsp water ( can also use milk)

Cover -
1 cup rice flour
1.25 cup water
pinch of salt
1 tbsp oil

Preparation for Stuffing -
Roast poppy seeds in a small skillet and let it cool down. Grind it coarsely and keep it aside.
In a heavy bottom kadhai mix all the ingredients for stuffing except poppy seed powder and let it sit for 15 min. Now start heating the mixture over medium heat. In about 10-12 minutes, the mixture starts boiling and stuffing will turn yellowish brown and will be sticky. Take the kadhai off the heat, add poppy seeds powder and mix well. Set it aside to cool down.


Preparation for cover -
Take vessel that has tight fitting cover. Start boiling water in that vessel, add salt and oil. When water starts boiling, lower the heat and slowely add rice flour. Please do now dump everything at once. Start mixing vigourously with a heavy spoon. Now close the lid and take the pot off the heat. Let the covered pot cool down for 15 minutes or so. Then with wet hands, mix the dough properly. It will warm so be careful and use cold water to keep your hands from burning but do not use too much water. if you think the dough is little sticky, I will suggest add 1-2 tbsp maida to it and make the dough.

Making Modak (Final Product) -
Start boiling water in a large vessel that can fit a steamer. I use a stainless steel steamer that fits on a pressure cooker and water doesnt touch the steamer and use stainless steel plate to cover it. Oil the steamer and set it aside.
Make about 20 balls of the dough and 20 parts of the stuffing. Start making small puri with the dough ball on a oiled paper/aluminum foil. Keep one part of stuffing in the middle of the puri and gather the puri gently to make shape like modak. You can see the picture here - http://www.hotelshreyas.in/photo/modak.jpg. You will have to handle the dough very gently. Follow the step to make remaining modaks. Now dip each modak in cold water and put it in the steamer. Put the steamer on boiling water and cover it. Let the modaks steam for 20 minutes on medium to high heat. Take the steamer off the vessel and let it sit for 5 minutes before removing moodakd from steamer.


These are my entries to Srivalli's ICC



28 comments/Reactions:

Parita said...

Wow your modaks have come out so good dear :)

lata raja said...

Good ones Padma,both of them have come out well.

Medhaa said...

Lovely challenge

Pari Vasisht said...

well tried dear.

Vrinda said...

Yummy modak,reminds me of our kozhukkata...

Sushma Mallya said...

Thats a nice filling for modak with poppy seeds...must be very delicious..will try this next time when i do it...

Jyoti V said...

Modak Looks delicious...i prepare with maida and wheat flour. With rice flour... will try...

ST said...

Modak looks delectable...

Priya Suresh said...

both modak and panchakhadya looks great and delicious..

Abhilash said...

When I was in maharashtra, we used to have modak as a prasad from ganesh takeri...

I was sweet and delicious.
When I came first in Kerala I was expecting temples to give prasad, but they gave chandanam as prasad...

:)

You modak looks nice.
I will try this one after onam.

Happy onam to you too...

dsdsds said...

Looks nice padma. Collect your award from my blog http://salt2taste.blogspot.com/2009/08/palak-paneer.html

Sarah Naveen said...

Looks Perfect!!

Vidhya said...

Modak looks perfect padma....

Unknown said...

Yummy modaks..panchakdya is totally a new dish to me...

Prasukitchen.blogspot.com said...

nice modaks Padma ..

ashsdelicacies.blogspot.ca said...

Excellent dish...pls come and collect ur award from my blog dear

Unknown said...

Your modak's have come out very well...

Dips said...

Great looking modaks !!

Padma said...

Thanks a lot everyone for your lovely comments :)
Thanks Dips for dropping by and leaving your comments :)

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

lovely modaks... Very impressed and hungry with these sweets...

Rekha shoban said...

looks perfect padma

Sanghi said...

Modak looks yummy padma!

Savi-Ruchi said...

lovely modaks & great going ICC

Unknown said...

nice choice of recipes Padma both came out well

Gita Jaishankar said...

Both the dishes look perfect and delicious Padma :)

Indian Khana said...

Looks delicious...

Srinivas said...

very nice,,,, Dad Bangalore India

Valarmathi Sanjeev said...

Nice modaks, looks yummy.

Post a Comment

Please leave your valuable comments/feedback. If having problems posting them, then you can also contact me at padmasrecipes@gmail.com .

Thanks
Padma