Ganesh Chaturthi Gastronomy: Reviving Tradition with Deccan Mudra
Ganesh Chaturthi, the festival celebrating Modakapriya Ganapati, is a time of joy, devotion, and culinary delights. As we come together to offer prayers and sweets to the beloved lord, why not infuse a touch of health into our festive feasts? In keeping with the spirit of celebrating traditions with a modern twist, we present a selection of sweet and savoury recipes that incorporate a dose of health into your celebrations.
1.Modak Modak is synonymous with Ganesh Chaturthi; how could we not start with that? This version uses low GI rice flour for a healthier twist. Ingredients:
1 cup Deccan Mudra low GI rice flour
1/2 cup grated jaggery
1/2 cup grated coconut
1/4 tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp ghee
A pinch of salt
Water
Instructions:
Heat ghee in a pan and add grated coconut. Saute for a few minutes until it turns slightly golden.
In a separate pan, dissolve the jaggery in a little water to make a syrup.
Mix the rice flour, cardamom powder, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Gradually add the jaggery syrup and knead it into a smooth dough.
Take small portions of the dough, flatten them, and stuff them with the sauteed coconut mixture.
Shape them into modaks and steam them until they are cooked.
2.Undrallu (Rice Dumplings) Undrallu is a traditional Andhra dish made during Ganesh Chaturthi. Replace the traditional white rice with low GI rice for the same taste with a longer-lasting feeling of satiety. Ingredients:
1 cup Telangana Sona low GI rice
1/4 cup grated coconut
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
A pinch of asafoetida
Salt to taste
Water
Instructions:
Wash and soak the rice for a few hours. Drain the water.
Grind the rice coarsely with grated coconut, cumin seeds, asafoetida, and salt. Add water as needed to make a thick batter.
Form small dumplings from the batter and steam them until they are cooked through.
3.Chana Dal Modak: Bored of the regular modak? Try this variation of modak made with bengal gram to make your offering memorable. Ingredients:
1 cup Deccan Mudra low GI rice flour
1/2 cup chana dal (split Bengal gram)
1/2 cup grated jaggery
1/4 tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp ghee
A pinch of salt
Water
Instructions:
Pressure cook the chana dal until it becomes soft. Drain any excess water.
Grind the cooked chana dal with grated jaggery and cardamom powder to make a smooth mixture.
In a separate pan, heat ghee and add the rice flour. Roast it for a few minutes.
Mix the roasted rice flour with the chana dal mixture to form a dough.
Shape the dough into modaks and steam them until they are cooked.
4.Kara Kozhukattai Kara Kozhukattai is a savoury version of the traditional modak, filled with a flavorful mixture of spices and coconut. Ingredients:
Soak the rice for 3 hours. Drain the water from the soaked rice. Grind the rice with water to a really smooth fine paste. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a pan and add in the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and the chana dal. Wait for the chana dal to turn golden.
Add in the curry leaves, ginger, onions and green chillies. Add in the salt. Saute for 2-3 minutes until the onions are cooked and slightly starting to brown.
Add in the ground rice mixture and stir with a spatula. The rice mixture will immediately thicken up into a mass of dough. Set aside.
Let the dough cool slightly. When the dough is still warm, dip your hands in cold water and take a small lemon size ball of dough. Press the dough a little to form oblong shaped dumplings. Set aside.
Place the dumplings on an idli plate or any flat plate and steam it for 15 minutes on a medium flame.
5.Amini Kozhakattai This popular savoury dish is often made as an easy add on whenever the sweet kozhakattai or modak is made. But you can always make a batch of this delectable dish to enjoy all on its own. Ingredients:
1 Cup Deccan Mudra Low GI Rice Flour
1 tsp Salt
1 tbsp Wood Pressed Sunflower Oil
Hot water as required
1/4 Cup Freshly Grated Coconut
10-12 Fresh Curry Leaves
2 Fresh Green Chillies
2-3 tbsps Wood Pressed Sunflower Oil
2 Sprigs: Fresh Curry Leaves
1/4 tsp Hing/Asafoetida
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tsp Urad Dal
1 tsp Chana Dal
2 Whole Dry Red Chillies: Broken
2 Fresh Green Chillies: Slit
Instructions:
Blend all the ingredients for the coconut mixture coarsely to form a nice greenish white mixture. Set Aside for its later use in the cooking process further.
Prepare the rice flour dough as in the modak recipe. This time, there is no filling. Just make tiny balls from the dough and steam them like idlis.
Once that’s done, transfer them into a separate plate and start on with the process of tempering the same: Heat up a frying pan over the medium-high flame- Add in the tempering ingredients to it and allow it to splutter and turn aromatic.
Add the Coconut Mixture, sauté until it’s just lightly browned and add the prepared Kozhukattais into it. Give it all a really good mix until nicely combined and well incorporated. Cook for another couple of minutes or so.
Take it off the heat and serve it with a spicy chutney.
This Ganesh Chaturthi, let's celebrate with a blend of tradition and health. These recipes, incorporating Deccan Mudra's low GI products, offer a delightful way to enjoy the festivities while making mindful choices for our well-being. May Lord Ganesha bless us with good health and happiness!
