Ukdiche Modak (Steamed Modak)

Traditional offering to Lord Ganesha - उकडिचे  मोदक commonly prepared in every household and relished by kids and adults. Every Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi, I make these modaks for Lord Ganesha. Generally the number of modaks is either 7, 11 or 21.

Ingredients:

• Rice Flour - 3 cups
• Water - 2 cups
• Salt
• 1 entire grated Coconut 
• Sugar - 2 cups
• Raisins - half cup
• Elaichi powder (cardamon powder) - 1 tsp
• Ghee - 1 cup

Procedure:

• Boil water in an utensil along with pinch of salt and one spoon of ghee. Once the water boils add in rice flour and switch off the burner. Stir the mixture rigorously and keep the dough mixture closed in that utensil for few minutes until it cools off a little.
• Then put some ghee on your palm and make the dough smooth by kneading the mixture.
• For the filling of the modaks, pour some ghee on a heated pan and add grated coconut. Mildly saute the coconut then add sugar and raisins.
• Once the sugar starts to melt switch off the burner and add raisins along with elaichi powder. You can add just a pinch of salt for taste.
• Now the process of making a shape of Modak is as follows:

1. Firstly always coat your hands with ghee or oil to avoid the dough sticking to your hands. Make a round ball of the dough and then create a well for the filling.
2. Insert small amount of filling and try to close the well of dough by gently pressing the edges of the dough together.
3. For shape you can press it in a mold which is available easily in the market.

• Once all your modaks are ready just steam them in Idli steamer or pressure cooker for 3-4 mins until they are cooked.

• The best method to make sure the Modaks are cooked is by the lovely aroma released once they are perfectly cooked :)

Spicy Brinjal Rice (Vangyacha Pulav)

This is not a classic pathare-prabhu recipe but it is considerably evolved and established in most of the Maharashtrain house holds. I am sure this type of preparation of spicy brinjal rice makes everyone's mouth water :) So cherish this recipe and make it for your loved ones...

                                                           

                                        

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice 2-3 cups
• Kesar - 1 tsp
• Brinjal 4-5 small - cut in four long pieces
• Potatos - 3-4 peeled and halved
• Peas- 1 cup
• Spring onions
• Pudina leaves
• Tomato - 2-3 cut into half's
• Garam Masala - Cinnamon, cloves, tej patta, black pepper, etc.
• Hing, jeera and mustard seeds (rai) - 1 tsp
• Turmeric -1 tsp
• Red Chilli powder - 1-2 tsp
• Salt

Procedure:

• Wash Basmati rice with water and soak in water for 10 mins. Add kesar in water to give some color to the briyani.

• Cut the brinjal, spring onion, potatos and keep them ready. Defrost the peas if you are using frozen peas (the best trick is to put frozen peas in water for defrosting and once the peas are defrost discard the water).

• In a mixer, grind tomato's and pudina leaves. You can include some ginger and garlic for flavour.

• In a cooker pour some oil. After heating a oil add Mustard Seeds (rai), Jeera, Hing and garam masala for roasting.

• After the garam masala is well roasted, insert spring onions and roast them along with turmeric as well as red chilli powder.

• Once the onions loose some water and turn golden brown you can put in the tomato and pudina puree. 

• Then insert all the vegetables i.e brinjal, potaos, peas in the mixture.

• Coat the veggies well with the masala and then add rice along with the kesar water and put some salt as taste.

• Close the lid of pressure cooker and let the rice cook for 15- 20 mins on low flame. The cooker should make only 2 whistles. 
• Voila..yummy Brinjal Briyani is ready to be served with rice.