Vella Kozhakattai
This Sweet is referred to as "Modak" in Hindi , 'Kadubu" in Kannada, "Kozhukattai/Kolukattai" in Tamil, which is a dumpling with assorted fillings will ring a bell. Indians use regular rice flour, the Indian version also has a traditional sweet filling (with jaggery-coconut being prominent) . The cover is then stuffed with this filling and steamed.
The Indian version though quite enjoyed on and oft during the year (depends on how much that particular family LOVES this - like mine;)) is especially a MUST during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi (also called as Vinayaka Chaturthi) which is considered to be Lord Ganesha's (the Hindu Elephant God) birthday. This sweet Modak is his favorite hence its prepared with much fun fare on his day. Just like any other (make it - most) Indian Sweet Recipes, this can be little tricky to make.
The Outer cover is one that's likely to pose an issue. Once that's done with, the filling(s) are a breeze. I have come across quite many methods for making the cover- some simple, some complex, some seemingly simple but never come out right for me etc etc. This method is followed by my mom and now by me which I find convenient. My mother is excellent when it comes to making adjustments even when something goes wrong with the traditional sweets where even small error is so unforgiving. While I am no way even quarter of her league, her tips usually save me from utter disasters. I have given few of them below for this recipe which might help you until you get comfortable without it.
Basic Information
Prep Time: 30 min to 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 min to 1 hour
Serves: 3 people
Yield: About 6-10 kozhukattai (modak) depending on the size
Ingredients
For the Cover
1 cup rice flour
1-1/4 cups water
pinch of salt
1-2 tsp vegetable oil or Ghee (I use ghee)
For the Jaggery Coconut filling (Vella poornam)
1 cup fresh coconut, grated (fresh is recommended, though you can use frozen too)
3/4 cup Jaggery, powdered
pinch of cardamom powder (or as per taste)
How to make vella kozhakattai or sweet mothak?
1.Lets prepare the filling first. Add jaggery and coconut together in a skillet.
In low heat, saute until the jaggery melts and the mixture thickens. Add the cardamom to the mix and toss well.
Tip: If it does not thicken well, add a little rice flour along with little drops of ghee and cook further for few seconds until it thickens. While still warm, take a small piece of this filling d make a small ball.
2. Repeat for all the filling. (Its hard not to take a ball and put it in your mouth. Its addictive!!!)
Alternatively lets prepare the cover. There are two ways to go about this.
Method 1:
Traditionally raw rice is soaked for few hours, the water is drained very well and then ground into flour. This flour is used to make this recipe. I usually go this way. For those short on time and looking for easier/quicker version, next method is for you.
Method 2:
If you are using Rice flour from the stores, you have to take care about few points. Sift the rice flour well - even two to 3 times. This is to remove debris etc. Set aside.
The quality of rice flour will vary and hence the amount of water used (instead of 1-1/4 cups) will vary. It might need more or less. So try this trick to find out what works best. Bring the recommended amount of water to boil along with salt and Ghee.
When its boiled, remove 1/4 cup of water and set aside. You can otherwise heat only 1 cup to boil in one skillet and another 1/4 cup or so in another skillet. Take this skillet off heat and set it in a counter.
Add the rice flour to the 1 cup of boiled water.
Using a wooden spoon give it a stir. It will be hot. It should come together into a mass all clumped together.
Let it sit for few minutes until its cool enough to handle. It should still be hot - only just enough to enable you to handle the dough. Dont let it get cold. Set aside two small bowls - one with oil/ghee, another with warm water. Grease your hands with Ghee and start kneading the dough. The idea is to make it pliable - into a smooth consistency like that of chapathi dough. The difference is that while chapathi dough has gluten and will stretch, rice flour lacks the gluten and will not be stretchy. The dough will be smooth but yet slightly sticky. Can you see my fingers coated with sticky dough? Yet it looks smooth.
Grease your palms well and break off a small piece from the dough. You should be able to rotate the dough into an extremely smooth ball - see like below?
Alternate now between dipping your fingers and greasing it with ghee and warm water for preparing the rest of the steps. Using your thumb and other fingers , make a small crater in the ball you made. Like an inverted cone. You should be using both your hands for this one.
Slowly rotate and go around making this crater until it looks little bigger like this one. You are need to make sufficiently big enough to be able to drop in the rounds of filling you made earlier.
Drop the sweet filling you made into the depression.
Very slowly brings the ends together over the top of the filling. Be gentle.
Bring it together so that you can pinch the top, sealing the filling. Pinch to make a small horn.
You can always pinch off excess dough.
And shape the remaining to look like a beak. Or if you are one of those lucky ones who has been able to get their hands on these Modak/Kozhukattai moulds (see this picture from Hot and Sweet bowl site), then consider cutting down on the preparation time by half. Or you can use the other shape to make these - The crescent shaped (semi-circle to be more precise) ones
Repeat with rest of the dough. Now steam them for about 10-15 minutes. You know its done when the color slightly changes and the cover becomes little translucent.
Once done, remove and drizzle some ghee on top of it (this is optional, of course) and enjoy it warm/hot.
See the cross section of this yummy dumplings? Sweet kozhakattai is ready now - no wonder its Lord Ganesha's favorite! Happy Ganesh Chaturthi
cookingly yours,
vinu
If you are interested in buying Quilling Earrings pls visit my website: http://www.quillkart.com
This Sweet is referred to as "Modak" in Hindi , 'Kadubu" in Kannada, "Kozhukattai/Kolukattai" in Tamil, which is a dumpling with assorted fillings will ring a bell. Indians use regular rice flour, the Indian version also has a traditional sweet filling (with jaggery-coconut being prominent) . The cover is then stuffed with this filling and steamed.
The Indian version though quite enjoyed on and oft during the year (depends on how much that particular family LOVES this - like mine;)) is especially a MUST during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi (also called as Vinayaka Chaturthi) which is considered to be Lord Ganesha's (the Hindu Elephant God) birthday. This sweet Modak is his favorite hence its prepared with much fun fare on his day. Just like any other (make it - most) Indian Sweet Recipes, this can be little tricky to make.
The Outer cover is one that's likely to pose an issue. Once that's done with, the filling(s) are a breeze. I have come across quite many methods for making the cover- some simple, some complex, some seemingly simple but never come out right for me etc etc. This method is followed by my mom and now by me which I find convenient. My mother is excellent when it comes to making adjustments even when something goes wrong with the traditional sweets where even small error is so unforgiving. While I am no way even quarter of her league, her tips usually save me from utter disasters. I have given few of them below for this recipe which might help you until you get comfortable without it.
Basic Information
Prep Time: 30 min to 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 min to 1 hour
Serves: 3 people
Yield: About 6-10 kozhukattai (modak) depending on the size
Ingredients
For the Cover
1 cup rice flour
1-1/4 cups water
pinch of salt
1-2 tsp vegetable oil or Ghee (I use ghee)
For the Jaggery Coconut filling (Vella poornam)
1 cup fresh coconut, grated (fresh is recommended, though you can use frozen too)
3/4 cup Jaggery, powdered
pinch of cardamom powder (or as per taste)
How to make vella kozhakattai or sweet mothak?
1.Lets prepare the filling first. Add jaggery and coconut together in a skillet.
In low heat, saute until the jaggery melts and the mixture thickens. Add the cardamom to the mix and toss well.
Tip: If it does not thicken well, add a little rice flour along with little drops of ghee and cook further for few seconds until it thickens. While still warm, take a small piece of this filling d make a small ball.
2. Repeat for all the filling. (Its hard not to take a ball and put it in your mouth. Its addictive!!!)
Alternatively lets prepare the cover. There are two ways to go about this.
Method 1:
Traditionally raw rice is soaked for few hours, the water is drained very well and then ground into flour. This flour is used to make this recipe. I usually go this way. For those short on time and looking for easier/quicker version, next method is for you.
Method 2:
If you are using Rice flour from the stores, you have to take care about few points. Sift the rice flour well - even two to 3 times. This is to remove debris etc. Set aside.
The quality of rice flour will vary and hence the amount of water used (instead of 1-1/4 cups) will vary. It might need more or less. So try this trick to find out what works best. Bring the recommended amount of water to boil along with salt and Ghee.
When its boiled, remove 1/4 cup of water and set aside. You can otherwise heat only 1 cup to boil in one skillet and another 1/4 cup or so in another skillet. Take this skillet off heat and set it in a counter.
Add the rice flour to the 1 cup of boiled water.
Using a wooden spoon give it a stir. It will be hot. It should come together into a mass all clumped together.
Let it sit for few minutes until its cool enough to handle. It should still be hot - only just enough to enable you to handle the dough. Dont let it get cold. Set aside two small bowls - one with oil/ghee, another with warm water. Grease your hands with Ghee and start kneading the dough. The idea is to make it pliable - into a smooth consistency like that of chapathi dough. The difference is that while chapathi dough has gluten and will stretch, rice flour lacks the gluten and will not be stretchy. The dough will be smooth but yet slightly sticky. Can you see my fingers coated with sticky dough? Yet it looks smooth.
Grease your palms well and break off a small piece from the dough. You should be able to rotate the dough into an extremely smooth ball - see like below?
Alternate now between dipping your fingers and greasing it with ghee and warm water for preparing the rest of the steps. Using your thumb and other fingers , make a small crater in the ball you made. Like an inverted cone. You should be using both your hands for this one.
Slowly rotate and go around making this crater until it looks little bigger like this one. You are need to make sufficiently big enough to be able to drop in the rounds of filling you made earlier.
Drop the sweet filling you made into the depression.
Very slowly brings the ends together over the top of the filling. Be gentle.
Bring it together so that you can pinch the top, sealing the filling. Pinch to make a small horn.
You can always pinch off excess dough.
And shape the remaining to look like a beak. Or if you are one of those lucky ones who has been able to get their hands on these Modak/Kozhukattai moulds (see this picture from Hot and Sweet bowl site), then consider cutting down on the preparation time by half. Or you can use the other shape to make these - The crescent shaped (semi-circle to be more precise) ones
Repeat with rest of the dough. Now steam them for about 10-15 minutes. You know its done when the color slightly changes and the cover becomes little translucent.
Once done, remove and drizzle some ghee on top of it (this is optional, of course) and enjoy it warm/hot.
See the cross section of this yummy dumplings? Sweet kozhakattai is ready now - no wonder its Lord Ganesha's favorite! Happy Ganesh Chaturthi
cookingly yours,
vinu
If you are interested in buying Quilling Earrings pls visit my website: http://www.quillkart.com
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