Unique modak recipes to try this Ganesh Chaturthi

It’s that time of the year, when there is happiness in the air and harmony everywhere! As amidst all the fun and frolic, it’s time to bring home the vigna harta - Lord Ganesh, and celebrate this 10-day long festival with a lot of enthusiasm.

In India festivals are the best reflection of our unity in diversity and this can be seen in everything. Right from the different rituals to religious practices to food. Well, food happens to be the soul of every festival, be it for cultural reasons or for celebrating togetherness over food as good food simply adds on to the festive spirit.

Interestingly, when it comes to Ganesh Chaturthi we often associate modak to this festival and this is simply because the deity is also fond of these sweet dumplings. So, why not to please him with his choice of sweetness. But we often opt for ready made sweets due to the dearth of time, but what if we tell you that making modak at home is just so easy that you will never go out to buy it. The best thing about making modak at home is that you can add your own twist of flavours and impress the deity with so many variety that even he will be spoilt for choices. So, without further ado let’s look at some interesting variants of modak.

Adding a twist of innovations can actually make your festive experience even better,

according to Chef Ananya Banerjee, Owner of LAB (Lifestyles by Ananya Banerjee),"Although I don’t believe in fusion much, I feel a few classics should be kept untouched and should not be fiddled with. But today everyone wants something new and has become very experimental with their food. With respect to modak, I have noticed lots of people do not use coconuts. Modak being a universal favorite, I have experimented with its fillings, keeping the outer coating intact. This one I shared has a filling of caramel, walnuts, sesame, and chocolate. The chocolate and caramel melts and oozes out while steaming giving a perfect taste to your palate."

Now, it’s time to treat Ganesha with a twist of chocolate. Well, we bet even he will love this amazing delight. To make this modak, take a deep bottomed pan and add milk, chocolate chips and condensed milk. Allow the milk and ingredients to boil over medium flame. Once the chocolate starts to boil, add the graham cracker crust to the mixture and stir well. Once the mixture starts thickening, add chopped pistachios and mix well. Turn off the flame and allow the mixture to cool down to a normal room temperature.

Grease the modak moulds with some ghee or refined oil, add the dough and allow it to attain the shape and cool down on normal room temperature. Your chocolate modak is ready.

How about indulging in a nice mango modak. This easy to make modak will simply add on to your festive mood. You need a bowl full of crumbled khoya and a hint of cardamom powder for some taste and aroma. Take a pan and heat it over medium flame and add khoya. Stir well, till the mixture starts melting, add some sugar, pour some mango pulp in the mixture, put a few strands of saffron and stir until the dough attains a thick texture.

Apply some ghee on the modak moulds and fill in the mixture. Then keep these moulds in a cool dry place and your modaks are ready.

Kesar also known as saffron, is known for its enchanting flavour and aroma. And the mere addition of this ingredient can take your sweet experience up a notch. This delight is perfect to treat your loved ones as a prasadam.

To make this delight, take a pan over medium flame and cook grated khoya, powdered sugar and some powdered cardamom powder, once the mixture starts melting. Turn off the flame and allow it cool. Add chopped pistachios in half of the mixture and in the other half add some saffron strands.

Then take some saffron mixture dough, roll it in the form of a disc and fill it with the pistachio mixture. Add these to the greased moulds and allow it to cool down. And your kesari modak is ready to eat!

Lord Ganesha’s love for modak is known to the world. So, how about adding a twist of taste to this traditional delight.

To prepare this exotic modak recipe, take dried figs, dates and finely chopped in. Take a pan over medium flame, and dry roast pistachios, almonds and cashews until they turn golden in color. Allow it to cool down and grind it well.

Then take a deep bottomed pan and add the powdered mixture. Add some poppy seeds, dry fruits, nut powder, cardamom powder and mix it with the date and ghee mixture. Stir these ingredients together, until it turns into a fine thick mixture. Then add chopped dry fruits and some ghee, then pour this mixture into the mould and allow it cool. Your dry fruits and nuts modak is ready to eat.

If you are fond of crispy delights, then you can try this crunchy modak recipe. To make this amazing recipe, take a glass bowl, add whole wheat flour, salt, refined oil and mix it well. Pour some water and knead the dough well.

Then take a non-stick pan over medium flame, add some powdered jaggery, grated coconut, roasted sesame seeds, nutmeg powder, cardamom powder and a bit of water. Cook the mixture for sometime, turn off the flame and allow the mixture to attain a normal room temperature.

Then take another pan and add some refined oil and heat it. Then take a small portion of dough and roll it the form of a disc, add the jaggery filling to it and seal the corners. Carefully drop the modaks in the hot oil and shallow fry them. Once they turn golden in colour, take them out and wipe off the extra oil with tissue.