Mothagam – Modakam

Mothagam/Modakam is a must for Pillayar Chathurthi. It is also called Poorana Kozhukattai. This Mothagam Kozhukattai is with coconut pooranam(stuffing). I used to help amma during my childhood days in making this. Missing all those memorable days..It is not only Pillayar’s favourite, but mine too.. I would always restrain myself from sharing this with anyone!! Hehehe…

While shaping the Mothagam I had to wash and wipe my hands a gazillion times.. That is when I decided I should make a video. So here u go with my first recipe with video of shaping Mothagams. I am really excited to present my first video, that too of my favourite recipe 🙂

Now to the recipe…

[Preparation Time-20 mins : Cooking Time- 25 mins]

Ingredients: 

For the outer cover:

• Rice Flour – 1 cup
• Water – 1 to 1 & 1/2 cups
• Salt – 1/4 tsp
• Milk – 1 tsp
• Oil – 1 tsp

For the Pooranam:

• Grated Coconut – 1 cup
• Jaggery – 1/2 cup
• Cardamom powder – a generous pinch

Method:

For the Pooranam:

• Heat a pan with jaggery and water just upto immersing level. Bring it to a boil. Strain it to remove impurities. Take the jaggery syrup in a pan and let it boil again. To this add grated coconut and mix.

• Mix well until the coconut absorbs all the moisture. Finally add cardamom powder and mix. Transfer it to a boil and let it cool.

For the outer cover:

• Dry roast the rice flour just until it is warm. Keep this aside. Heat a pan with water. Add salt, oil and milk to it. Let it boil. Simmer and add the rice flour stirring simultaneously.

• It will become thick very quickly. Mix until it forms like a dough. This will take a few mins only. Transfer it to a wide bowl and press it with your hands to form a smooth dough while it is still warm. Keep it covered.

To Shape into Mothagam:

• Grease your hands with little oil. I always keep a bowl of water added with a teaspoon of oil handy. Pinch a small ball sized dough. Flatten it into a thin disc. Take a spoonful of pooranam and place it in the centre.

• Pull all the edges to the centre. Cover the filling and form a shape like a money bag as shown in the picture. Meanwhile heat a idli pan or steamer with water. Grease the idli plates and place the shaped Mothagams on it. Steam cook for 7-10 mins. U can see that the Mothagam is shiny. Carefully transfer it to a bowl and keep covered.

Mothagam is ready!!

Serve as neivedhyam and enjoy!!

Tips:

1. While making the outer cover, adding milk helps to prevent cracking of the Mothagam.
2. Add rice flour to the boiling water and stir simultaneously. Act quickly as this will not take more than a few mins.
3. Always keep a bowl of water added with a teaspoon of oil handy.
4. Make sure there is no moisture in the pooranam, else it will be difficult to shape the Mothagam.
5. Do not overcook the Mothagam, it will become rubbery and hard.

Here is the video of shaping the Mothagam: