Prepare a festive batch of Makhana Modak with roasted makhana, jaggery, ghee and green cardamom. These moulded modaks have a soft, nutty base and a moist coconut-jaggery centre, making them a lovely homemade Ganesh Chaturthi prasad.

10 modaks | Prep: 15 min | Cook: 25 min | Total: 40 min

Ingredients

• 100 g — Dinesh Flour Mills Makhana (Dinesh Flour Mills product)
• 250 ml — Full-fat milk
• 80 g — Dinesh Flour Mills Gud/Jaggery, finely grated (Dinesh Flour Mills product)
• 1 tsp — Dinesh Flour Mills A2 Gir Cow Bilona Ghee (Dinesh Flour Mills product)
• 3 tbsp — Fresh grated coconut
• 2 tbsp — Chopped almonds and pistachios
• 1/2 tsp — Dinesh Flour Mills Green Elaichi powder (Dinesh Flour Mills product)
• 1-2 tsp — Warm milk, only if needed for shaping

Method

1. Heat ghee in a heavy pan. Add makhana and roast on low heat for 6-8 minutes, stirring continuously, until crisp. Do not let it brown deeply.
2. Cool the roasted makhana completely, then grind to a fine powder. Sieve once for a smoother modak texture.
3. For the filling, cook grated jaggery and coconut on low heat for 4-5 minutes until the mixture comes together but remains moist. Add half the cardamom and chopped nuts. Cool.
4. Bring the milk to a gentle simmer. Add the makhana powder gradually and stir continuously on low heat until it forms a soft, non-sticky dough. Add the remaining cardamom.
5. Transfer the dough to a plate. When warm enough to handle, knead gently. If it feels dry, add warm milk a teaspoon at a time.
6. Lightly grease a modak mould. Press a portion of makhana dough along the sides, add 1 teaspoon filling, cover with a little more dough and press to seal.
7. Open the mould carefully and repeat. Rest the modaks for 10 minutes before arranging as bhog. Refrigerate leftovers and serve at room temperature.

Cooking Notes

• Roast makhana until crisp before grinding; soft makhana can make the mixture lumpy.
• Keep the coconut-jaggery filling moist, not runny, so the modaks hold their shape.
• Use only as much extra milk as needed because excess liquid will soften the moulded ridges.
• Allergen note: Contains dairy and tree nuts. Adjust nuts if required.