Ulundu Kozhukattai Recipe – Uppu Kozhukattai/ Urad Dal Modak
Prepare these incredibly easy and delicious Ulundu Kozhukattai, also recognized as Urad Dal Modak or Uppu Kozhukattai, for the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. The process is straightforward, and everyone enjoys indulging in these delightful Kozhukattai treats.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Rice flour
- 1 cup Water
- 1 teaspoon Oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
For the filling
- 1 cup White Urad Dal (Whole), soaked for 4 hours
- 2 Green Chillies , chopped
- 1 inch Ginger, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon Asafoetida (hing)
- Salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Sesame (Gingelly) Oil
- 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
- 1 sprig Curry leaves, finely chopped
Instructions
- To begin making the Ulundu Kozhukattai Recipe – Uppu Kozhukattai/ Urad Dal Modak, first soak the urad dal in 2 cups of water for about 3 to 4 hours. Drain the water completely. Combine the dal, green chillies, ginger, salt and asafoetida powder and blend into a coarse batter.
- Place the batter in steamer plates or idli plates and steam on high heat for about 10 minutes until cooked. To check if it is cooked insert a knife in the center and it should come out clean.
- Remove from the steamer and allow it to cool. Once partially cool, cut into pieces crumble the steamed lentils until there are no lumps.
- Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan; add the mustard seeds and allow it to crackle.
- Stir in the crumbled steamed lentils into the seasoning and saute for a few minutes until well combined.
- Allow the urad dal/ ulundu to cool. Once cool divide the lentils into 10-15 oval shaped portions and keep aside. This will be the savory filling for the rice wrapper.
- To make the wrapper for the modak/ Ulundu Kozhukattai
- Bring the water to a boil in a pan along with the salt and oil.
- Gradually add little rice flour at time and keep stirring till the Ulundu Kozhukattai mixture comes together.
- Turn off the heat and transfer the rice flour mixture to another bowl and cover with a muslin cloth. Keep it aside for 5 minutes. It will help the Ulundu Kozhukattai dough to come together.
- With a little oil in a cup, smear the oil in your hands and knead the dough well to remove any lumps. At all times make sure keep the dough covered with a wet muslin cloth to prevent the dough from drying out.
- Take a lemon size portion of the Ulundu Kozhukattai dough, make into a ball and press the dough in the palm of your hands to make a flat dough, cup your palms a bit so it forms a depression in the center.
- Place the urad dal filling in the center and bring the edges of the dough together to the center to make an oval shape Ulundu Kozhukattai
- Continue the similar process with the remaining portions of the dough and dal filling.
- Note: Keep dipping and smearing your fingers and palms with sesame oil when you handle a new portion of the dough. This will prevent the Ulundu Kozhukattai from sticking to your hands.
- Prepare the steamer filled with water. Place the Ulundu Kozhukattai in the steamer plate and into the steamer.
- Steam for about 10 minutes until the Ulundu Kozhukattai look shiny and smooth. You will also notice that if it is not cooked, the rice wrapper will be sticky.
- Once they are steamed, the Ulundu Kozhukattai (Ukadiche Modaks) are ready for an offering to god for the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. You can also have this steamed dumpling as your Teatime Snack.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!