Modak/Coconut Kuzhakattai

I had a picture from the kozhukattais made last year, but had not posted the recipe yet. Here it is, may be you could try for the Vinayaka Chaturthi this year ??!!

For the coconut filling :

Grated coconut- 1 cup

Jaggery- 1 cup

Powdered cardamom- a pinch

• In a deep skillet, melt the jaggery in a little water. No need to make syrup.
• When the jaggery boils, add coconut and cardamom and mix well. You should reach a consistency shown in the picture below.

For the dough-

1 cup rice flour

Oil- 1 tbsp

Water

• In a skillet, add oil.
• Add rice flour and one cup water. Mix well and break lumps. Water makes the batter really soft. So the more you add, the better! Tip: But be careful, add water little by little because you do not want to make the dough soggy either. Its a balance between keeping the dough soft yet not making it soggy. So what I do is, add water- let it mix in. Add more water again and let it mix in. Do this step by step until you get it like a chapathi dough.
• The dough should be smooth and silky. I am sure most of you have seen the dough that your mom makes! Dough resembles chapathi or naan doughs. Will upload a picture when I make it this time.

To make the kozhukattais:

• Roll the dough into golf-size balls. Oil your palms so that the batter does not stick to your hands.
• Flatten it.
• Add the coconut filling. Close the edges (see picture for shape).
• Steam in microwave or pressure cooker with little water. You can steam these in an idli plate. Place them in an idli plate. Set a cup of water in a round bottom vessel on the stove. Place the idli plate on top and close with a lid. Steam for 8-10 min. I steamed the kozhukattais in the microwave using microwaveble idli plates. If using a microwave, steam for 4 minutes.

Enjoy!