Kozhakattai/Modhakam (Steamed Dumplings) for Vinayagar Chathurthi Step by Step Recipe

Vinayagar Chathurthi neivedyam Ullandu/Kara Kozhakattai and Poornam Kozhakattai recipe.

Dough in common

Ingredients
Rice flour - 2 cups and little more

Water - 2 cups or more if required.

Nalla Yennai/Gingelli oil/Sesame Oil - 2-3 tspns

Salt a pinch

Preparation Method

In a wide vessel boil water, add oil and salt. Reduce the flame slowly add rice flour and stir continously to form a chapathi dough consistency. Allow it to cool. Grease hands with oil and make small balls out of it. Close a clean wet towel on it to avoid drying.

Poornam/ Sweet Stuffing

Ingredients

Fresh Grated Cocont - 1 cup

Jaggery - 1 cup(powdered)

Cardamom /Elachi- a pinch 

Preparation Method
In a wide kadai, add jaggery with a tspn of water. Allow it to dissolve with stirring on intervals. Add grated coconut and cardamom powder. Mix till its thick and dry. Transfer it to a plate.

To make Kozhakattai

Now take the Rice flour balls.

Spread in hand to form a round shaped cup.

Fill a tspn of coconut filling.

Seal the edges by pressing slowly to form triangle shape.

Steam it in the idli cooker for 15mins.

Poornam Kozhakattai is ready for Lord Ganesha.




Ullandu Stuffing

Ingredients
Ullandu/Urad dal - 1 cup

Dry Red Chilli - 1 no
Green chilli - 2 nos
Asafotida/Hing - a pinch
Oil - 1 tspn
Mustard - 1/2 tspn
Curry leaves - few
Salt
Fresh grated coconut - Optional - 1/2 cup


Preparation Method

Soak Urad dal with green chilli for about 1 hour.

Grind it coarsely not to fine in a mixie with red chilli and salt.
Steam this in Idli cooker for 10 mins or till its well cooked.
Now season it with oil, mustard,hing and curry leaves and grated coconut.
Mix the steamed stuffing and keep aside.


Stuffing is ready.

To make Kozhakattai

Now take the Rice flour balls.

Spread in hand to form a round shaped cup.

Fill a tspn of Urad dal filling.

Seal the edges by pressing slowly to form crescent shape.

Steam it in the idli cooker for 15mins.

Ullandu Kozhakattai is ready for Lord Ganesha.

Thank you friends, am happy that this is my 250th post. I know am late:-)

PS - Your feedback is appreciated. Do try recipe from (http://www.sarascorner.net/) take a picture and send it to me through Facebook message or mail me at simplysara07@gmail.com. Will be glad to add in my page Tried & Tasted album on FB or post on my page. Do follow me on Instagram id - saraswathiyer for more food stories and recipe ideas.Thank you.

Vinayagar/Ganesh Chathurthi Festival

Our house Vinayagar.

Wishing you all Happy Vinayagar/Ganesha Chathurthi.

My day started with this Kolam/Rangoli.

Vinayagar Chathurthi falls on 11th Sept 2010. It is celebrated in many parts of India but in specific celebrated very grand in Maharashtra. Big idols are kept by the sides of the streets and celebrated for 11 days or even upto a month. Music and dance performances takes place every day during this period at the end of which these idols are taken to the sea and immersed in water. At home it is done on the same day or on the third day. People with small and medium idols. People with small and medium idols immerse it at home in a bucket of water or in the tank. Some people take to nearest lake and immerse.

Back home we decorate the table for ganesha with lots of colour paper, banana leaves, fruits, lighting, Mango leaves, etc.. Ganesha is placed in a silver plate filled with rice and money. Garlands specially handmade in cotton(Gejje Vastra). You also get garlands made of lotus and chickpeas.

People visit temples and friends. Children take Akshata(Rice mixed with turmeric and water or ghee) and visit as many houses to see different kinds of idols and puja. Also enjoy the prasadams.In Karnataka, they also celebrate Gowri Festival one day before Ganesha Festival. They worship the idol of Goddess Gowri mother of Lord Ganesha. Its called Gowri Ganesha Habba.

Plain Clay idols or colour idols are available.

Hope this festival gives good health, peace, wealth and prosperity to everyone.Kozhakattai/Modak is favourite of Lord Ganesha and is an important dish on the menu for the Festival.

Delicious Dishes prepared on this festival without onion and garlic by Brahmins/Iyer.

Click on the names for recipes.

Idli
Uppu Kozhakattai/Modakam(Urad dal and spices covered with Rice flour)
Poornam Kozhakattai(Jaggery and coconut stuffing covered with Rice flour)
Sundal(Dish prepared with white or black skinned chickpea)
Vella Appam
Vadai
Ellu Urundai
Ammni Kozhakattai Payasam
Poriyal/Curry
Sambar
Paruppu Rasam
Curd Rice
Pickle

For step by step recipe of Poornam and Ullandhu Kozhakattai click here.

PS - Your feedback is appreciated. Do try recipe from (http://www.sarascorner.net/) take a picture and send it to me through Facebook message or mail me at simplysara07@gmail.com. Will be glad to add in my page Tried & Tasted album on FB or post on my page. Do follow me on Instagram id - saraswathiyer for more food stories and recipe ideas.Thank you.

Paneer Bhurji!!!

Paneer Bhurji is a simple and very tasty side dish.

Ingredients
Paneer/Paal Katti/Indian Cottage Cheese - 1 cup grated or scrumbled(For homemade paneer click here)
Onion - 1 cup (chopped)
Tomato - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Capsicum - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Garlic - 1 no(Chopped)
Garam Masala - 1/2 tspn
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tspn
Turmeric - a pinch
Oil - 2 tspns
Salt

Preparation Method
In a kadai/wok, heat oil add onion, garlic and saute till transperant.
Add tomato and cook till its soft. Then add capsicum and saute for 5mins.
Add garam masala, turmeric, red chilli powder, salt and mix well.
Finally add grated or scrambled paneer. I scrumbled it.

Cook for few mins and off the stove.

Paneer Bhurji is ready. This can be a perfect combination for chapathi/roti/naan. Sometimes I even stuff on sandwich too.

This can also be great sidedish for picnic or lunch box if you plan to carry chapathi.

Paneer Bhurji is going off to Letz Relish Paneer by Jay.