Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: 7 Steps To Make

Ukadiche Modak

For Naivedyam

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 begins on 14 September across India. In this festival, offering everyday bhog to the deity is deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual traditions. Ukadiche Modak is a staple part of the Naivedyam thali offered to Lord Ekadanta. His love for the sweet dish also earned him the nickname Modakpriye. From shaping it flawlessly to steaming it to perfection, this guide brings you a modak recipe to make at home during this ten-day festival.

Here is the list of ingredients for a modak recipe that makes around 15 dumplings:

For The Rice Flour Dough

• Rice Flour: 1 cup

• Water: 1.5 cups

• Ghee: 1/4 tsp

• Salt: 1/4 tsp

For The Sweet Stuffing

• Freshly Grated Coconut: 1 cup

• Finely Chopped Jaggery: 1 cup

• Cardamom Powder: 1 tsp

• Grated Nutmeg: 1/4 tsp

• Poppy Seeds: 1/2 tsp

• Ghee: 1/2 tsp

Every melt-in-your-mouth Ukadiche Modak recipe is known for its sweet coconut-jaggery filling. To make it, heat ghee in a pan on a low flame. Then add poppy seeds and fry them till they start crackling. After a few seconds, add freshly grated coconut, jaggery, cardamom powder and grated nutmeg. Mix this mixture thoroughly over low heat. The jaggery will melt first. Stir and cook this mixture for 9 minutes, until the moisture in the jaggery begins to dry. Once done, keep this filling aside to cool.

Now, for a delicate rice flour dough, add water, ghee, and salt to a pan. Keep it on the stovetop and cook this mixture. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat and gradually add the rice flour. Stir the flour into the water. Keep stirring until the rice flour is mixed with the water. Now switch off the heat and cover this pan with a lid for 5 minutes. Now transfer all the dough into a large thali, gather it together, and begin kneading. Knead the dough very well. Then make small balls from the dough. Roll the balls till smooth in your palms. After rolling the smooth balls, cover them with a kitchen towel.

Apply ghee to your palms. Then, pick a ball and flatten it with your fingers into a round disc or a shallow bowl shape. Place the prepared sweet filling in the centre. Now, flute and press the edges, and simply bring all the edges together and join them. After that, remove any extra dough from the top. Shape and taper the top of the modak with your fingers.

If you have a modak mould or modak sancha at home, use it for easy prep. Start by greasing it with a bit of ghee. Then close or lock the mould. Put the dough ball into the mould and press it down to create a space. Then place the sweet stuffing inside and cover the bottom with a small piece of dough. Now press and smooth it to seal the modak. Open or unlock the modak mould. Gently remove the modak from the mould, and shape all the modaks this way using the mould. Cover the shaped modaks with a napkin to prevent the rice dough from drying out.

To steam the modaks, you can use a gas steamer, a wooden steamer, or an electric steamer. Start by placing a muslin cloth on the steamer, then place the modaks on it, leaving a little space between them, and lightly cover the modaks with the rest of the cloth. Now place the steamer lid; this will help prevent steam from escaping. Steam the modaks for no more than ten minutes. Once done, if you are using a gas steamer, remove the top part and leave it for 5 minutes for it to cool a little. Voila! The modaks are ready to be served.

For Ganesh Chaturthi, drizzle these freshly made modaks with homemade ghee and then offer them to Lord Ganesha as Naivedyam. However, on regular days, enjoy them as a sweet snack or dessert. To store them properly, pack them in an airtight container and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. Steam or microwave with a few drops of water whenever you wish to serve them. Follow these steps; it may look fiddly at first glance, but with practice, you can make this modak recipe perfectly.