Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Try This Quick, Fusion

Matcha Mawa Modak

Make Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 one of the best celebrations with this matcha modak. The usual ukadiche modak recipe is always the highlight every year, as it should be, but this mawa modak also deserves a spot on your festive spread. The green of modak is reminiscent of the late monsoon rains that are almost seen as magic on the West Coast, and while this Japanese matcha green tea can be grassy and bitter, the sugar, mawa, ghee and cardamom powder balance it out well. So try this matcha modak recipe this Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 and harness the goodness of this powdered green tea that has been dominating wellness trends ever since the pandemic. The entire process of making modak is quite straightforward and begins by cooking the mawa in ghee until it is soft and smooth; then the milk and matcha powder are added. The matcha grade is a marketing gimmick, so you can use the ones that are sold as non-ceremonial grades. If you want less bitterness, look for ichibancha, or first-harvest tea, which uses spring leaves and tastes smoother and less bitter. Coming back to the matcha modak recipe, once the matcha powder is mixed and the mawa is smooth and green, the sugar is added off the heat along with the cardamom powder. You will need a modak mould to shape this mixture into small modaks, and, if you want, you can add a little chopped nuts and desiccated coconut to their centres before pressing them into the moulds for a delicious festive treat.