Savory Modak - Koyakattai

I love sweet modak, specially ones made by Amma. Some people do not enjoy the sweet version. If you are one amongst them no worries as there is a savory version of the modak. Its very simple dish to make once you know how to make it. Amma used to make it with hand. In this modern world there are molds that can be used to make the modak.

Ingredients:

For Stuffing:

Urad dal - 1 cup (soaked in water for 1 hour)

Grated Coconut fresh or frozen - 1/2 cup

Green chilli - 2/3 (as per taste)

Curry leaves - few strands

For tempering:

Oil

Mustard seeds - 1tsp

Urad dal - 2tsp

Red chilli - 2/3 cut into pieces

For Covering:

Rice powder - 1 cup

Water  - 1 1/4 cup

Salt as per taste

Oil - 2 tsp

Idli stand or any other vessel to steam.

Method:

To make Stuffing:

Drain all water from the soaked dal, Grind it rough with salt, green chilli & curry leaves. Season it with urad dal, red chilli & mustard.  Add grated coconut. Steam this mixture in idli stand for 10 mins.Turn off the gas and let the mixture cool.

To make outside covering

Take a pan and 2 tsp oil, water and rice powder. Keep stirring until it leaves the spatula and comes clean when touched with hand. Turn off the gas and let the mix cool.

To make the modak:

Make small balls out of the stuffing mix. Grease a idli stand just 1 plate (Grease the 2nd plate on the stand so it can be little higher than water level). Grease your hand with little oil, make a round ball with the covering mix. Use your fingers to shape it like a small flat circle. Take 1 stuffing ball and stuff it in the flat circle and now slowly close it towards the center folding it in the shape of modak. Alternatively you can grease the modak mold and stuff the stuffing. Keep the modak in the idli plate. Keep the modak at some distance from other. Now steam for 12 mins on high flame. Turn off the gas and remove the modak. It is ready to be enjoyed.