Steamed Ukdiche Modak Recipe

Brown Rice Ukdiche Modak

Modak is a sweet delicacy popular in Western India, especially Maharashtra. it is also the favorite sweet of Lord Ganesha which is made during the 10-day Ganesha festival and offered to Ganesha. They are either fried or steamed popularly known as Ukdiche Modak in Marathi.

Ukdiche Modak is the dumplings prepared by steaming.  Their outer surface is made up of rice flour dough and an inner filling of the coconut-jaggery mixture.

The word "Ukadiche" means 'one that is steamed. ‘Ukad’ means rice flour dough which is steamed. So in simple English “Ukadiche Modak” means steamed Modak.

In southern India, it is known as Kolukattai or Kozhukattai. These are made during Vinayaka Chaturthi in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The festival celebration is incomplete without its patent dish. Hence we have got a healthy and at the same time equally tasty method of preparing Ukdiche Modak here.

Equipments-Bowl, steamer, Modak mold

Recipe features 

Jaggery-coconut mixture stuffed in brown rice flour steamed coating makes it a healthy, nutritious, detoxifying, and tasty recipe.

Modak Ingredients

For the outer covering: 

• 1 Cup Brown Rice Flour

• 1 ½ Cup Water

• ¼ Tsp Oil

• Salt to taste
 

For the inner sweet filling:

• 1 Cup Fresh Coconut (Grated)

• 1 Tbsp Dates Paste

• Stevia Drops to Taste

• 3-4 Cardamoms (Powdered)

• Pinch of Nutmeg Powder or Grated Nutmeg (Jaiphal powder)

• ½ Tsp Poppy Seeds (khuskhus)

• 2 Tsp finely chopped peeled almonds and cashews

• ½ Tsp Oil

• ½ Tsp Brown Rice Flour (Optional)

How to Make Diabetic-Friendly Modak

Making the sweet filling for Ukadiche Modak:

• Heat a pan; add poppy seeds, cardamom powder, and nutmeg powder and sauté for a min.
• Then add grated fresh coconut and dates paste cook over low flame.
• Stir at times and cook this mixture until the moisture from the dates paste begins to dry, switch off the flame. Add nuts, and Stevia drops as needed.
• Keep it aside, on cooling it thickens.
• You can also add a bit of rice flour to this mixture, this is an optional step, which helps to absorb moisture if any from the filling.
• Keep the filling aside to cool.

Making the outer cover of the Ukadiche Modak:

• In a pan or dekchi, add the water, oil, and salt.
• Keep it on the stovetop.
• Let this mixture come to a boil. Reduce the flame and add the rice flour gradually.
• Quickly stir and mix the flour with the water.
• Stir until all the rice flour is mixed with the water.
• Switch off the flame.
• Remove the pan from the stovetop and then cover this pan with a lid for 4-5 mins.
• Now take all the dough on a plate/thali or in a bowl and knead it.
• The dough will be hot when, you begin to knead, so apply some water on your palms, and knead the dough very well.
• If you feel the dough looks dense, hard, or dry, then just add a few teaspoons of warm water and continue to knead.
• Make small balls from the dough.
• Roll the balls until smooth in your palms.
• You can also apply some water to your palms while rolling the balls.
• Keep the balls covered with a kitchen towel.
• The balls should be smooth in appearance and should not have any cracks.

Assembling & shaping Modaks

• Before you start shaping the Modaks, keep water for steaming in a pan, grease the steamer lightly with oil.
• Take a ball and flatten it with your fingers to a round disc or a shallow bowl shape.
• You can apply oil to your palms while flattening.
• Place the Modak filling in the center and press the edges to form pleats in a traditional Modak shape.
• Bring together all the edges and join them.
• Remove the extra portion of the dough from the top, if any.
• Shape and taper the top of the Modak with your fingers.

Steaming Ukadiche Modak:

• Make all the Modaks this way.
• Keep them in a steamer pan.
• Cover the pan with a lid and steam for 10-15 mins on a low flame.
• Some Modaks may crack while shaping or steaming, buts it is all right.
• Once the Ukadiche Modaks are steamed, they are ready to be served hot.

Storage suggestion:

Modak stays well at room temperature for a day. For extended shelf life they were refrigerated up to 3 days. To reheat simply steam them for 3 to 4 minutes. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

Your Sugars are likely to rise after eating this food. Eat with awareness, please!

For diabetics with sensitive sugars: -

Eat 2 Modaks without taking any other grain in the meal, as rice is a grain. Check BSL after 2 hours.

For diabetics in an advanced stage of reversal: -

Can eat up to 4 Modaks in meals, without taking other grains, and check your sugars after 2 hours. 

It is very important to eat healthy as much as possible.  If you prepare Ukadiche Modak the above-given way, be rest assured.

Ukdiche Modak itself is a special sweet and complete food for diet conscious.  You can relish it independently and feel full. 
If you want to enjoy some other healthy sweet you can prepare Puran Poli made up from khapli wheat which is also a very healthy and complete recipe in itself.

FAQs

Is Steamed Ukadiche Modak safe for diabetes?

Yes! FFD-style Ukadiche Modak is made with coconut, date paste, and stevia, making it a great option for diabetes.

Can I replace jaggery with other sweeteners in Modak?

Yes, You can use date paste, stevia to make diabetic friendly modak.

How many Modaks can a person with diabetes safely eat?

Eat 2 Modaks without taking any other grain in the meal, as rice is a grain. Check BSL after 2 hours.

For More similar Diabetes-friendly Snacks, you can check

1. Sesame Seed Laddu

2. Easy moong ladoo recipe