Dates Modak with Natural Sweetener

 

You want to have Modaks? Why not make them yourself? This dates modak recipe with only natural sweetener is awesome and really easy to make.

There are more such recipes on my channel:  https://goo.gl/XBwLLc

 

These sweet rice dumplings with date filling are made with rice flour. The filling is made with dates and walnuts which is quite unconventional and surprises everyone pleasantly.

In this video, I have used the traditional method of shaping the modaks and also used a trick method which can be attempted by beginners and experts alike.

So, you can be sure of getting the perfect shape for your modaks.

 

How to make sweet rice dumplings the easy way… traditional recipe with a modern twist…

 Click the link below to watch the video:

DATES MODAK with natural sweetener             Makes 18 to 20

Ingredients:

FOR THE DATE FILLING

Dates – 300g

Walnuts (roasted and chopped) – ½ cup

Maple syrup/Honey – 3 tbsp + 1 tbsp

Cinnamon powder – ½ tsp

 

FOR THE RICE PASTE

Rice flour – 1 ½ cups

Ghee/Clarified Butter – 1 tsp

Salt – ¼ tsp

Water – 1 ½ cups + extra for kneading

 

Method:

1.    FOR THE DATE FILLING: Pit or deseed the dates and chop them up. In a mixer jar add in 2 to 3 tbsp of chopped dates and 3 tbsp of maple syrup and grind to a thick coarse paste.

2.    In a bowl, add in the chopped dates, chopped walnuts, the paste and cinnamon powder. Mix to combine. Divide the filling into marble sized portions. Keep aside.

3.    FOR THE RICE PASTE: Boil 1 ½ cup of water with salt and ghee. Turn off the heat. Add in the rice flour and mix well. Keep it covered for 5 mins. After 5 mins, stir the rice paste  a few times to cool it down and mix it. Keep uncovered for 3 mins.

4.    Take it out onto the work surface and knead with wet hands till it becomes smooth. Divide into lemon sized balls. Keep covered with a damp cloth.

5.    To shape the Modaks/Dumplings, take a rice dough ball and shape it into a smooth round ball. Then press with thumb and fingers to shape it into a bowl that has a thick bottom and thin edge. Place a filling portion into it.

6.    Pleat the edge. Press to close the opening and shape it into a tapered end.

7.    Alternately, you could skip step 6 and cover the filling with the rice dough. Shape it into a teardrop. Use a skewer or chopstick to press markings on its sides that look like ridges. Form dumplings with the remaining dough.

8.    Boil water in a large pan. Place the steamer plate over the water. Lower the heat. Place the dumplings/Modaks on it with a slight gap in between. Cover and let it steam for 10 to 12 mins.

9.    Remove the dumplings and arrange on a plate. Serve them with a drizzle of maple syrup and a sprinkling of cinnamon powder.

© Rinki’s Kitchen