Modak: The circle of goodness

Indian festivals are simply incomplete without delicious food and delectable sweet delights. In fact, each festival has a symbolic delicacy, which in some or the other ways has religious or mythological relevance.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival celebrated with full enthusiasm in India.  Although, a plethora of sweet and savoury delicacies are prepared during this festival, but modak is seriously the limelight stealer. When coconut, jaggery, rice flour, lots of desi ghee and of course, work from a firm trained hand are put together, you get this exotic sweet.

The sweet filling inside a modak is made up of fresh grated coconut, jaggery, and spices, while the soft shell is made from rice or wheat flour. All these ingredients make Modak rich in nutrients. The dumpling can be fried or steamed. The steamed version, called Ukdiche Modak and is eaten hot with ghee.

Goodness Of Modak

1. Modak contains jaggery, which can help ease digestion and prevent constipation. Jaggery is also packed with antioxidants and nutrients which help cleanse the liver. Consuming jaggery regularly prevents iron deficiency anemia.
2. Modak contains coconut, also called as shree-fal (God’s Fruit). It has vitamins, electrolytes, and minerals which improves digestion, skin health and clear acne.
3. Modak contains ghee which is loaded with healthy fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. They are important for bone, brain, heart, and immune system function.
4. Modak contains rice flour which is non allergic and naturally gluten free.

Ways To Make Modak Healthy

Avoiding sweets during a festive occasion is difficult if not impossible. Overall the Meals on festivals should be made wholesome. In a day and age when many choose to watch their calorie intake, the healthy modak variant comes as the perfect solution. Eating these variants the health-conscious ones won't need to worry about missing out on any of the festive indulgences. These are also ideal for those who have diabetes or heart disease, who also can enjoy a modak or two, by swapping the traditional ingredients with the healthy ones.

We can make modak healthy by swapping its traditional ingredients with –

TRADITIONAL INGREDIENTS

HEALTHY INGREDIENTS

Coconut ( for the filling)

Nuts, figs, fruits, oats, dates, cottage cheese, khoya, flax seeds, sesame seeds and chia seeds.

Sugar

Jaggery, fruits and dates.

Rice flour (for the outer covering)

Jowar flour, oats and wheat flour.

Ghee

Nuts and Khoa

Modaks are not just a delicacy but a small part of bliss and known as a circle of goodness. Celebrate this Ganesh Chaturthi with the joy, love and lots of modaks.

Ganapati Bappa Moraya!