In Southern India, It is customary to offer Savory Modak or Uppu Kozhukattai which is a Ganesh Chaturthi Special item along with sweet Modak to Lord Ganesha.
Some other popular names for Uppu kozhukattai are Ulundu Kozhukattai, Kara kozhukattai. Uppu means salt in Tamil hence the name uppu kozhukattai for these savory dumplings.
Ulundhu means Urad dal. Since the stuffing for these kozhukattai is made using urad dal, hence the name ulundhu.
These dumplings are very healthy as we make them with minimum oil plus we steam them.
There is a famous item from Bihar and from Eastern parts of india-Dal Pitha. The method of making pitha is same. But there is some difference in the stuffing. Instead of White Lentil or Urad Dal, the stuffing uses Bengal Gram Lentil or Chana dal in pitha.
Here is an authentic recipe from Tamil Iyer community for Savory Modak, Uppu Kozhukattai, which is a Ganesh Chaturthi Special recipe.
Since one of the popular names for Lord Ganesha is “Modaka Priya” meaning who loves Modak. That’s why during Ganesh Chaturthi, it is customary to offer a prasadam of Modak or dumpling.
Tamil word for Modak is Kozhukattai.It can be either savory or sweet.
Traditionally Modak is shaped using hands.
Nowadays moulds are available which make the task simple. Yet to keep our tradition alive, let’s try to make it the traditional way.
Believe me, it is not difficult. If you manage to get the right consistency of the dough, rest all becomes very simple.
You will also see that the method of making these dumplings is the same in Southern India and Eastern India where they make Dal Pitha in the same manner.
There may be little variation in the stuffing. I have presented the traditional recipe from Tamil Iyer community.
ABOUT GANESH CHATURTHI
Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayakar chaturthi is a popular Hindu festival. People all over India celebrate this festival and the Traditional Steamed Modak,Sweet Kozhukattai, Ukadiche Modak, Ganesh Chaturthi Special recipe has become synonymous with Ganesh Puja.
Since we consider Lord Ganesha to be the God of wisdom, success and propensity, therefore people, who believe in his powers worship him and seek his blessings before beginning something new.
While worshiping the deity, people offer a bhog with foods and ingredients that he loves in order to please him and attract positive energies into their lives during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Please check the recipe for Sweet Steamed Modak here.
Savory Modak, Uppu Kozhukattai, Ganesh Chaturthi Special
Ingredients
For stuffing
- ½ cup White lentil or whole urad. Can use Urad Dal instead.
- 1 inch ginger
- 3 nos Green Chillies
- 1 tsp salt
Tempering for Stuffing
- 1 tsp Sesame Oil
- ½ tsp Black mustard seeds
- ½ tsp Whole urad/white lentil
- ⅛ tsp Asafoetida
- 1 tbsp Curry leaves Finely chopped.
- ½ tsp salt
Dough for Modak
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup rice flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
Instructions
Preparing Paste for Stuffing
- Soak White Lentil for 3 hours. Discard Water.
- Add Ginger.
- Add green chillies.
- Grind to a coarse paste.
- Add Salt.
- Mix and keep aside.
Cook stuffing
- Grease a steamer.
- Put paste and spread evenly.
- Steam for 15 minutes.
- Check with toothpick if cooked properly. Toothpick should come out clean. If it does not, then cook for some more time.
- Once cool, take it out.
- Crumble with hands and keep aside.
- Heat a pan for tempering. Add Sesame Oil.
- Add Mustard seeds.
- Once seeds crackle, add asafoetida.
- Add urad.
- Add curry leaves.
- Roast for 2 minutes.
- Add crumbled paste.
- Stir for 2 minutes and then turn off flame.
Make Dough
- Add Water to a heavy bottom pan.
- Add sesame oil.
- Add Salt.
- Add rice flour.
- Stir and turn off flame.
- Cover and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a bowl.
- Add 1 more tbsp of oil.
- Knead to a smooth dough.
- Cover with a damp cloth.
Make Modak
- Take lemon size dough ball.
- Flatten and make a circle.
- Put some stuffing.
- Seal corners.
- Make pattern with hands.
- Fill water in a pan. Heat. Grease a steamer plate.
- Arrange Modaks and steam for 15 minutes.
- Serve.
Nutrition Facts
8 servings per container
- Amount Per ServingCalories169
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
4.78g
8%
- Saturated Fat 0.72g 4%
- Sodium 441.49mg 19%
- Potassium 239.86mg 7%
- Total Carbohydrate
27.1g
10%
- Dietary Fiber 2.7g 11%
- Sugars 0.8g
- Protein 4.9g 10%
- Vitamin C 3%
- Calcium 1%
- Iron 10%
- Magnesium 10%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.