Modak

Ingredients:

For the Cover :

• rice flour-1 cup
•  ghee-1 tsp
•  water-1 cup
• oil-1/2 tsp
• salt-a pinch 

For the Filling :

• 2 cups shredded fresh coconut
• 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. roasted poppy seeds
• 1 cup jaggery (Gur) or Sugar

Procedure:

     Bring the water to a boil and add oil into it for the outer covering. Take off heat. Now add the rice flour, little by little to avoid lumps and cover the mixture and let it cool.  When cool, knead it well into dough with a smooth finish. Now take the coconut and Jaggery / sugar in a heavy-bottomed pan for the stuffing. keep on low flame with stirring. Stir and take off heat. The mixture should be fairly dry and turn a shade darker. Now make balls with the (covering) dough. Flatten them on the palm or on a surface into a circle. Place the stuffing in it and cover it completely with the dough. Fold the edges tapering to the centre. Spread a damp cloth onto a flat round sifter and arrange all the modaks onto it. Place the sifter in a steamer and cover. Steam for about 15 minutes. Use a big size saucepan or pressure cooker if you don't have a steamer. Do not put the whistle if you use the pressure cooker.