Coconut Rose Modak is a delightful and colorful variation of the traditional Modak, a sweet dumpling often offered to Lord Ganesha during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. These modaks are flavored with rose essence and garnished with desiccated coconut. Here’s the recipe:
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
For the Outer Layer:
- 1 cup rice flour
- 1 cup water
- A pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon ghee (clarified butter)
For the Filling:
- 1 cup grated fresh coconut
- 1/2 cup jaggery, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon rose essence or rose water
- A few drops of pink food coloring (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
Instructions:
Prepare the Outer Layer:
- In a saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon of ghee.
- Reduce the heat to low and gradually add 1 cup of rice flour while continuously stirring to avoid lumps.
- Cook the mixture for a few minutes until it comes together as a dough and leaves the sides of the pan. Remove it from heat.
- Allow the dough to cool slightly. When it’s still warm, knead it into a smooth and soft dough. Cover it with a damp cloth to prevent drying.
Prepare the Filling: 5. In another pan, add grated coconut and grated jaggery. Cook this mixture over low heat.
- Stir continuously until the jaggery melts, and the mixture comes together. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
- Add rose essence or rose water, cardamom powder, and pink food coloring (if using). Mix well.
- Continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Remove it from heat and let it cool.
Shape the Modaks: 10. Grease your palms with a little ghee. Take a small portion of the rice flour dough and shape it into a small bowl-like structure with your fingers.
- Place a spoonful of the coconut-jaggery mixture inside the rice flour cup.
- Seal the edges of the cup and shape it into a modak by pinching the top. Make sure to create pleats on the top to give it the traditional modak shape.
- Repeat this process to make more modaks.
Offer to Lord Ganesha: These Coconut Rose Modaks are now ready to be offered to Lord Ganesha during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. You can also enjoy them as a sweet treat.
Cook’s Tips:
- If you don’t have rose essence or rose water, you can use a few drops of rose syrup for flavor.
- Adjust the amount of jaggery to suit your sweetness preference.
- You can also garnish the modaks with slivered almonds or pistachios for added crunch and flavor.
