Mothagam or Modak or Kozhukattai is a steamed dumpling made with rice flour consisting of filling either sweet or savory which is offered as prasad to Ganapathi Bappa for Ganesh chaturthi festival in India. This steamed modak consists of sweet filling with freshly grated coconut and sugar. Yes sugar! Its common for everyone to make modak with jaggery but modak can be made with sugar filling too just an additional variety to add to the already known modak recipes. This modak consists of 2 parts:
Making of outer shell
Making of filling
Though it may sound as too many process the making is super easy and does not take much time or ingredients which is very easy even for beginners to make. For the modak shape I used my fingers to mold it but if you prefer using modak maker you can use that too. The below recipe yields very small quantity of modak if you need more number just increase the quantity accordingly. So lets get to the making!
Take water in a pan and add salt to it. When the water starts boiling reduce the flame.
Now add rice flour in it and mix well without forming any lumps and put off the flame. It will form an improper dough leaving the sides of the pan. When the rice flour mixture is warm knead it with your fingers to form a perfect dough. Keep the dough covered with muslin cloth or lid to prevent it from drying.
In a bowl add grated coconut, sugar and cardamom powder. Mix well and keep it aside. Make this mixture just before making modak.
Grease your hands with oil/ ghee. Pinch a medium portion of dough and flatten it into small circle. Not too thin not thick a state in-between both. Keep little filling in the center and bring all the edges to the center and make it into modak shape as shown in the picture. Repeat the process till all the dough is complete.
Heat water in idli steamer. Grease steaming plate with little oil. Place the modak or kozhukattai and steam it for 10 to 12 minutes. When dine remove it from idli steamer and serve it.