• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Spice Up The Curry
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • By Category
    • By Ingredients
    • Festivals
    • Collections
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Ingredients
  • Festivals
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Ingredients
    • Festivals
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Recipe Index » Festivals » Ganesh Chaturthi

    Ukadiche Modak (Steamed Modak)

    Published: Aug 9, 2020 · Last Modified: Aug 9, 2020 by Kanan Patel / 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    Collage of main modak pic with 3 steps of shaping modak using mould and text on top for pinterest

    Ukadiche Modak for Ganesh Chaturthi Festival. This recipe makes soft, melt-in-your-mouth kind outer layer stuffed with chewy, sweet coconut filling. They have the perfect combination of flavors and textures. In other words, pure festive bliss! 

    For cooking them, the steaming method is used. So they are also called ‘steamed modak’.

    6 steamed modak on oval steel plate with few handmade modaks and swastika lamp on back
    Jump to:
    • What is Ukadiche Modak? 
    • ❤️Lord Ganesha’s Favorite Food: Modak
    • 🧾Ingredients
    • 🍳Step By Step Photo Instructions 
    • 💭Expert Tips:
    • 🥣 Storage & Make-Ahead:
    • FAQs
    • 📋 Recipe Card
    • ⭐ Reviews

    What is Ukadiche Modak? 

    Ukadiche is the Marathi word, meaning ‘steamed’. Modak is the sweet treat and there are many verities of modak recipes. This is a traditional and classic Maharashtrian recipe usually made on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival as an offering (Prasad) to Lord Ganesha.

    These steamed modak are made of three main ingredients - rice flour, jaggery and coconut. These three are said to be local produce of Maharashtra.

    There are three steps in making ukadiche modak. (1) make stuffing (2) make outer layer dough (3) Shape and steam.

    These homemade steamed modak may require more effort than some other sweet dishes but they are well worth it! 

    ❤️Lord Ganesha’s Favorite Food: Modak

    This classic ukadiche modak is one of Ganpati Bappa's favorite foods. So these are made with devotion and offered to him as a prasad (naivedya) during Ganesh Mahotsav. Check out my collection of 10 different modak recipes to impress Bappa.

    Apart from this, ladoo are his favorite. Plus, few other savory dishes (like poori bhaji, varan bhaat, rice poori, rishi panchami bhaji) are also offered to him as a bhog.

    🧾Ingredients

    Here is the pic of the ingredients used in ukadiche modak. You’ll need 10 ingredients (6 for stuffing + 4 for outer covering). Don’t forget to read a few notes about them after the pic.

    image of ingredients using in making stuffing and outer covering dough for ukadiche modak

    Ingredient Notes

    Coconut: Here in the USA, I rarely find a fresh coconut. So most of the time I use frozen grated coconut and it works perfectly fine. Many use dry coconut in the absence of it. But fresh (frozen) is a better choice.

    Jaggery: The stuffing color purely depends on the color of your jaggery. In the above pic, you see dark colored jaggery. But in the step-by-step pics (shot in 2015), I have used lighter colored one. 

    Poppy seeds: It is optional. These are white poppy seeds aka khuskhus (not the one that you find on bagels).

    Rice flour: I have used the regular rice flour that is easily available in Indian grocery stores. It works fine if shaping the modak using mould. 
    -- You can shape them by hand by making pleats (you’ll see below), but the dough is easily breakable and you won’t be able to make near pleats to make it look beautiful as the sweet shops. 
    -- To avoid breaking the dough, you’ll need to add 2 teaspoons of glutinous rice flour (easily available in Asian supermarkets)

    🍳Step By Step Photo Instructions 

    Making Stuffing For Ukadiche Modak:

    1) Take grated coconut and jaggery in a pan on medium heat.

    2) As jaggery melts, the mixture becomes loose and runny. Continue cooking till it becomes thick and most of the moisture evaporates. It takes around 6-7 minutes. The cooking time depends on how much moisture your coconut and jaggery has. So keep an eye on it.

    3) Now add poppy seeds, cashews, raisins and cardamom powder.

    4) Mix and cook a minute. Turn off the stove, remove the stuffing to a plate and let it cool down.

    Collage of making stuffing shows cooking coconut, jaggery and adding flavoring, nuts and poppy seeds

    Making The Dough For Outer Covering:

    5) Bring water to a boil and add ghee. Keep the heat on medium-low.

    6) Add rice flour and stir immediately to avoid lumps. It will come together like a dough.

    7) Cover it with lid and Cook for 2-3 minutes. Do stir once or twice in between.

    8) Remove it to a plate and let it cool to touch.

    9) Once it is warm or cool enough to handle. Start kneading and if it feels hot, apply some water on your palm and continue kneading.

    10) Make the smooth and lump-free dough.

    collage of 6 steps of making dough. Shows adding ghee to water, mixing rice flour, cooking, kneading and smooth ball

    Shaping Method 1: Using Modak Mould

    1) Grease the inside of the mould using ghee. Take a small ball from the dough.
    2) Add one ball into the mould.
    3) Press it tightly and make the hollow center. Use your finger to shape it.
    4) Add the stuffing & lightly press it.
    5) Take little dough and seal the open part.
    6) Open and gently remove it and place it on the plate. Keep it covered with a clean kitchen towel while you shape the rest.

    collage of 6 steps of shaping modak. shows dough ball, shaped into mould, stuffed, sealed and unmould.

    Shaping Method 2: Using your hands

    1) Grease your hand with ghee or just wet with water. take one ball on your palm.
    2) Now using your other hand, slightly press it to make the small disc.
    3) Now using two hands (thumbs and fingers), gently press it and keep shaping it.
    4) Make about 3-4 inch diameter circle.

    collage of 4 steps of shaping modak. shows dough ball on palm, pressing with fingers and round thin disc

    5) In the center, add 2-3 teaspoons of stuffing.
    6) Now using your thumb and first finger, start pinching the little edges and make the pleats.
    7) I made only 5 pleats only. More near the pleats, more beautiful it will look. This comes from the practice also as mentioned above you’ll need to add glutinous rice flour (see ingredient notes).
    8) Now carefully pinch it together and seal it.

    collage of 4 steps of shaping. shows stuffing, pleating and sealing.

    Steaming The Modaks:

    1) While shaping, don’t forget to keep them covered to avoid drying.

    2) Prepare the steamer and let the water come to a boil. Meanwhile, Brush all the modak using water. Or alternately you can dip them in a glass of water.

    3) Prepare the steamer thali. Arrange the parchment paper or muslin cloth or banana leaf on the steamer thali. Arrange modaks on the thali.

    4) Steam them for 13-15 minutes on medium heat. Let it cool to touch. Meantime they will firm up. Now remove them and place them on the plate. Drizzle ghee or saffron-milk over ukadiche modak.

    collage of 4 steps of steaming modak. Shows shaped modak, brushing water, on steamer plate and steamed

    💭Expert Tips:

    • Don’t overcook the stuffing otherwise, it becomes chewy. Overcooked jaggery makes it hard to eat.
    • You must knead the dough while it is warm. If it sticks, you can add ghee and also grease your hand with ghee.
    • The dough has to be smooth, soft and pliable to able to shape the modaks.
    • Make the outer covering of medium thickness. If it is too thick then it takes more time to cook. Also, it doesn’t taste good as the proportion of outer part vs center filling is not right.
    • If the outer shell is too thin then It may break while making the pleats. Also, it may break and stuffing will ooze out while steaming.

    🥣 Storage & Make-Ahead:

    • Ukadiche modak stays good for 1 day at room temperature and a couple of days in the refrigerator.
    • The stuffing can be made a day or two before and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. 
    • The dough has to be made the same day you are shaping them.
    3 handmade modaks & 4 mould shaped modak on steel plate

    FAQs

    Where to buy the modak mould?

    During the festive season, you can find in Indian grocery stores. You have to ask them. Or you can buy from Amazon (they are pricey online). There are many different kinds of moulds (like fat one, skinny one, made of plastic or aluminum). I have bought mine from India.

    How to steam modak in instant pot?

    - Add around 1 inch of water in the instant pot insert. Let the water come to a boil on saute mode.
    - Place the trivet and then modak filled steamer basket on it. Close with the lid, keep the vent on the venting position.
    - Cook on ‘Steam’ mode for 13-15 minutes (you need to use an external timer). Once pin drops, open the lid. 

    ukadiche modak on steel plate with front modak cut into half

    Check Out Other Modak Recipes

    • Fried modak
    • Rava modak
    • Chocolate modak
    • Mawa modak

    PS Tried this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback! Plus, Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for all the latest updates.

    📋 Recipe Card

    Step by Step Photos AboveWant to make it perfect first time? Don't forget to check out Step-by-Step photo instructions and helpful Tips & Tricks !!
    ukadiche modak on steel plate with front modak cut into half
    Print Pin

    Ukadiche Modak (Steamed Modak)

    5 from 1 vote
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and/or give ★ ratings
    This steamed modak recipe makes soft, melt-in-your-mouth kind outer layer stuffed with chewy, sweet coconut filling. They have the perfect combination of flavors and textures.
    Author: Kanan
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Maharashtrian
    Calories: 88kcal
    Servings 15
    Prep Time 30 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml) See details

    Ingredients  

    For Stuffing:

    • 1 cup Coconut (Fresh or frozen), grated
    • ½ cup Jaggery (Gur) powdered or grated
    • ½ teaspoon Green cardamom seeds powder
    • 1 tablespoon Poppy seeds (khuskhus)
    • 5-6 Cashew nuts chopped
    • 1 tablespoon Raisins

    For Outer Covering:

    • 1 ¼ cups Water
    • ⅛ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ teaspoon Ghee (Clarified butter)
    • 1 cup Rice flour

    Instructions 

    • Making Stuffing: Take grated coconut and jaggery in a pan on medium heat. Cook till it becomes thick and most of the moisture evaporates. It takes around 6-7 minutes. The cooking time depends on how much moisture your coconut and jaggery has. So keep an eye on it.
    • Now add poppy seeds, cashews, raisins and cardamom powder. Mix and cook a minute.
    • Turn off the stove, remove the stuffing to a plate and let it cool down.
    • Making The Dough: Bring water to a boil and add ghee. Keep the heat on medium-low.
    • Add rice flour and stir immediately to avoid lumps. It will come together like a dough.
    • Cover it with lid and Cook for 2-3 minutes. Do stir once or twice in between.
    • Remove it to a plate and let it cool to touch.
    • Once it is warm or cool enough to handle. Start kneading and if it feels hot, apply some water on your palm and continue kneading. Make the smooth and lump-free dough.
    • Shaping Method 1 (Using Modak Mould): See the step-by-step photos shared above for visual understanding.
    • Grease the inside of the mould using ghee. Take a small ball from the dough and add it into the mould.
    • Press it tightly and make the hollow center using your fingers. Add the stuffing & lightly press it. Take little dough and seal the open part.
    • Open and gently remove it and place it on the plate. Keep it covered with a clean kitchen towel while you shape the rest.
    • Shaping Method 2 (Using your hands): Grease your hand with ghee or just wet with water. take one ball on your palm.
    • Now using your other hand, slightly press it to make the small disc. Now using two hands (thumbs and fingers), gently press it and keep shaping it to make about 3-4 inch diameter circle.
    • In the center, add 2-3 teaspoons of stuffing. Now using your thumb and first finger, start pinching the little edges and make the pleats. I made only 5 pleats only. Now carefully pinch it together and seal it.
    • Steaming The Modaks: While shaping, don’t forget to keep them covered to avoid drying.
    • Prepare the steamer and let the water come to a boil. Meanwhile, Brush all the modak using water. Or alternately you can dip them in a glass of water.
    • Prepare the steamer thali. Arrange the parchment paper or muslin cloth or banana leaf on the steamer thali. Arrange modaks on the thali.
    • Steam them for 13-15 minutes on medium heat. Let it cool to touch. Meantime they will firm up. Now remove them and place them on the plate. Drizzle ghee or saffron-milk over ukadiche modak.

    Notes

    Rice flour:
    • I have used the regular rice flour that is easily available in Indian grocery stores. It works fine if shaping the modaks using mould.
    • If shaping using hands (also, making multiple near pleats for beautiful looking modak), this dough might get cracks while shaping. In this case, you’ll need to add 2 teaspoons of glutinous rice flour (easily available in Asian supermarkets)
    Recipe Notes:
    • Don’t overcook the stuffing otherwise, it becomes chewy. 
    • You must knead the dough while it is warm. If it sticks, you can add ghee and also grease your hand with ghee. 
    • The dough has to be smooth, soft and pliable to able to shape the modaks.
    • Make the outer covering of medium thickness. If it is too thick then it takes more time to cook. Also, it doesn’t taste good as the proportion of outer part vs center filling is not right.
    • If the outer shell is too thin then It may break while making the pleats. Also, it may break and stuffing will ooze out while steaming.
    How to steam modak in instant pot?
    1. Add around 1 inch of water in the instant pot insert. Let the water come to a boil on saute mode.
    2. Place the trivet and then modak filled steamer basket on it. Close with the lid, keep the vent on the venting position.
    3. Cook on ‘Steam’ mode for 13-15 minutes (you need to use an external timer). Once pin drops, open the lid, steamed modaks are ready.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1modak | Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1.1g | Fat: 2.8g | Saturated Fat: 1.8g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 0.8g | Sugar: 5.5g
    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving
    Did you make this recipe?Snap a pic, mention @spice.up.the.curry or tag #spiceupthecurry. I would love to see.
    « Stuffed Mawa Modak (Khoya Modak)
    Fried Modak »
    1135 shares
    • Facebook33
    • WhatsApp

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Comments

    1. Mini

      October 02, 2015 at 10:21 pm

      Hi Kanan,

      Modak looks very beautiful. I really want to give it a try. I wanted to know from where did you get the modak mold? Thanks .

      Reply
      • Kanan

        October 05, 2015 at 11:26 am

        Thank you Mini. I bought the molds online from flipkart.

        Reply
    2. Sonal Bhandari

      September 15, 2015 at 3:26 am

      Hi Kanan,

      I want to make this receipe but I dont have a steamer. Can I use pressure cooker for this? The measurements will change?

      Reply
      • Kanan

        September 16, 2015 at 10:48 am

        Yes you can use pressure cooker without whistle. And make sure that water in the cooker does not touch the thali or tin (in which you place the modaks.)
        No change in the measurements. If you have small cooker then you might need to steam them in batches

        Reply
    3. kushi

      September 11, 2015 at 7:18 pm

      WOW! These modak looks so beautiful and perfect. I can never do it like this. lovely share dear 🙂

      Reply
      • Kanan

        September 11, 2015 at 8:44 pm

        Thank you Kushi, You should give it a try. It is not that hard

        Reply
    Kanan

    Hi, I'm Kanan Patel. I share easy, delicious vegetarian recipes (mostly Indian) and Eggless baking recipes that you can sure count on!

    More about me →

    Indian Spice Box

    Indian Spice Box

    Top Recipes

    • Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • World’s BEST Eggless Brownies
    • Punjabi Shahi Paneer (Restaurant Style)
    • Chipotle Sauce
    • Eggless Banana Muffins Recipe
    • Frankie Recipe (Bombay Veg Frankie Roll)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Kanan
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Nutrition Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates. Plus get a bonus cooking tips!

    Resources

    • Conversion Chart
    • Glossary
    • Recipe Index
    • Contact

    As Featured In

    Spice Up The Curry Featured in sites

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Spice Up The Curry