Festive Food: Here’s the Good Old Modak Modified!

You have seen many avatars of Ganesha, now see some different avatars of his favourite sweet.

The way to Ganesha’s heart is through his stomach (Quite obvious, right?). If traditional modaks don’t satisfy your sweet tooth and if you want to spoil the ‘Modakpriya’ deity with choice, then offer him something different this festive season, swaad anusar.

Bappa’s favourite food has gone through a major transformation over the years - the only thing that remains constant is its dome-like shape.

Home chefs Neeru Mehra and Shraddha Mehta Virani make chocolate modaks in all its variations — white, dark, praline and mint flavours. With so many flavours to choose from, there’s something new to offer Bappa each day. The mother-daughter duo share their quick and easy recipe of flavoured modaks.

The Recipe

1. Take chocolate (you could take white, milk or bitter chocolate, as per your taste). Heat it for 5 minutes in the microwave.

2. The chocolate will start to melt down. Keep stirring continuously so the chocolate doesn’t burn.

3. After it melts completely, mix it well with a spatula so there are no lumps.

4. Take a mould and fill 1/4th of the cavity with chocolate. Put it in the fridge for 5 minutes.

5. Remove the mould and now fill 3/4th of the cavity with the flavour of your choice- peanut butter, paan, roasted almonds, ganache with rose essence, red velvet sponge, etc.

6. Add chocolate on top and mix well. It will come together like sticky dough. Put the mould back in the fridge for 30 minutes. Do not refrigerate.

(Home bakers Neeru Mehra and Shraddha Mehra Virani, of the popular home run brand, Neeru’s Cakes and Desserts, have been conjuring new varieties of modaks since the last three festive seasons. www.facebook.com/neerusdesserts)