It is the best time of the year! The time when the entire family gets together to welcome Ganapathi in their home. Growing up, this was my favorite holiday! We all would pack our bags and go to our ancestral house in Mardol, Goa. Drawing “rangolis” (colorful designs), playing “fugdi” (a traditional Goan dance), putting together the “matoli” (array of seasonal fruits placed over Ganapathi), bursting firecrackers with cousins and of course the mouth-watering traditional menu that would change everyday! How I miss all the fun we had! Ganapathi’s favorite food is modak. There are many ways to make this delicacy. You can steam them, fry them or buy them from the market. Here is a simple recipe made with milk solids (mawa).
What you will need:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Almond Powder | 3 ounces |
| Cardamom Powder | 1/3 teaspoon |
| Fresh Cream | 8 ounces |
| Ghee | 2 tablespoons |
| Mawa/Milk Powder | 14 ounces |
| Milk | 4 ounces |
| Powdered Sugar | 2 ounces |
| Saffron | few strands |
How to make it:
- Heat ghee in a pan.
- Add fresh cream and milk. Add the saffron as well. Mix frequently and let the mixture come to a boil.
- Now reduce the flame to a slow simmer. Add the mawa powder. Mix continuously, ensuring that there are no lumps.
- Also, add in the almond powder. Mix well till the mixture is not runny. It should easily separate from the bottom of the pan.
The mixture should separate from the pan easily - Turn the flame off and add the sugar and cardamom powder. Mix well again ensuring that there are no lumps.
- Let the mixture cool till you can easily touch it without burning you hands.
- Knead the mixture well.
Modak Dough - Take a small amount of mixture at a time and begin shaping it like modaks as shown in the picture.
- Enjoy and share with friends and family!