Vella Kozhukattai (Sweet Modakam) with Video

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Serves: 4

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Ingredients:
Dough for the cover
Rice flour - 1 cup
Water - 1 to 1/4 cup
Pinch of salt
Sesame oil - 1/2 tsp

For the coconut pooranam (filling)
Freshly grated coconut - 1 cup
Jaggery - 3/4 to 1 cup
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Ghee - 1 tsp
Water - 2 Tbsp















Method:

1. Add water and jaggery together in a skillet.  Let the jaggery melt and add the coconut.
2. Saute the mixture on a low heat until thickens.  You need to have some moisture left in the mixture. Other wise when it cools the filling becomes hard.
3. Add the ghee and cardamom powder.  Mix well and transfer it to a bowl.
4. While its still warm, grease your palms with ghee and make a small marble sized balls.
5. To make the dough, combine water, oil and salt in a skillet and let it come to a boil.  Reduce the heat and add rice flour little at a time.  Stir until all the water is absorbed,  Turn off the heat and transfer the dough into a bowl.
6. Cover the dough with wet paper towel or cloth.  Let it stand for 2 minutes.
7. While it is still hot, grease your hand with ghee or oil and knead the dough until smooth.  If it is too hot to handle, you can use a potato masher and mash until smooth.  Cover with wet towel.
8. There are tow ways to make kozhukkatai.  One is the traditional shaping method using your hand and the other method is by using the mold. I used the mold to prepare my modakam.
9. Hand method:  Grease your palms with oil and take a small amount of dough and make a ball.
10. Pinch the dough along the edges with both hands in a circle and make a small bowl shape.  Place the jaggery filling in the center and close the dough to form a cone shape.  Repeat with the rest of the dough and keep it aside.
11. Mold method:  Grease the inside of the mold and close it.  Take a small amount of dough and press gently around the inside wall of the mold.  Now put the filling in the middle and cover with some more dough.  Gently press the mold and remove excess dough.  Open the mold and remove the shaped modakam.  Repeat with the rest of the dough.
12. Steam cook the modakams for 10 minutes.

Here is my video on how to use the mold