Modak

You will need:

• 3 cups rice flour
• 6 cups water
• 6 tsp oil
• 4 cups grated coconut
• 2 cups sugar or powdered jaggery
• a little milk

For the outer covering,bring the water to a boil, add oil to it.take off heat. now add the rice flour, little by little to avoid lumps from forming,cover the mixture and let it cool.when cool,knead it well into a dough with a smooth finish. the dough should glisten,then you know it’s right.

For the stuffing,take the coconut and jaggery/sugar in a heavy bottomed pan.add milk.keep on low flame with stirring.stir and take off heat.the mixture should be fairly dry and turn a shade darker.

Now make balls with the [covering] dough. flatten them on the palm or on a surface into a circle.if using your palms,apply some oil or you could be in a sticky mess.place the stuffing in it and cover it completely with the dough,the edges folding and tapering to the centre.use milk to bind edges.steam cook the modaks in a cooker for 15 minutes until done.