Vella Kozhukkattai

Ingredients (7)

• raw rice powder0.75 cup
• and 1/4 cups water1
• salt0.25 tsp
• coconut0.25 cup
• jaggery0.25 cup
• + 1 tsp ghee1 tsp
• cardamom pods4.5

Method

1. 1

   It will take about 8-10 mins for it to reach the stage we require. Keep mixing now and then and add cardamom powder before removing from fire. Set aside and allow to cool.

2. 2

   Roll the pooranam into small balls and set aside. The coconut I used had long strands in it that's why my filling is all rough. Use normal grated coconut and you should be fine.

3. 3

   With wet hands, take a lime-sized portion of the rice dough, form a ball by greasing your hands with the ghee, and flatten on your palm like so. Make sure its not too thin. I like there to be more filling than outer covering so I use lesser dough. Adjust according to your preference.

4. 4

   Place the filling in the centre...

5. 5

   ..and cover the filling with it as uniformly as you can. It's the same technique used for aloo paratha. Once covered, make a smooth ball (just using the fingertips of one hand and rolling-rotating).

6. 6

   Place on your steamer plate (greased with some ghee if you like, I didn't do it)...

7. 7

   ..and steam for about 10-15 mins until the covering glistens. It will still be sticky to touch but don't steam for more than 15 minutes or they will harden.

8. 8

   Let cool and use the sweet modaks to please Lord Ganesha into giving you whatever you wish for ;)

9. 9

   instead of jaggery, you can also use brown sugar. The flavour will definitely be compromised a bit but the taste will be just fine. The reason why my filling looks extra dark is because the jaggery we get in Kerala is super unrefined (and unsalted) and very dark in colour and I always bring back jaggery when I go home. Use whatever jaggery is available where you live.

10. 10

    The filling or pooranam can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to a day.

11. 11

    When working with the rice dough, make sure you work quickly before the heat leaves the dough. Even if you can't steam all modaks together, make the balls and keep ready for steaming in the next batch. Don't let the dough sit as is for too long or else it will dry out.

12. 12

    What snacks do you normally prepare for Ganesh Chaturthi (or Vinaya Chaturthi, depending on which part of India you're from)?