Rava Modak | Easy Semolina Modak

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Rava modak is an easy variation of modak made with semolina or sooji and stuffed with a sweet filling of jaggery and fresh coconut. They don’t need to be steamed and so the cooking time is greatly reduced. You can make these semolina modak for Ganesh Chaturthi festival or as a sweet snack.

rava modak served on a plate.

I recently made this sweet and thought of sharing the recipe with you. The traditional version of modak is made with rice flour and stuffed with coconut and jaggery filling. I have already shared the traditional Maharashtrian recipes of:

In this recipe, as the name suggests, fine sooji or rava is used to make the outer cover. The filling is made of coconut and jaggery. Taste-wise it is similar to the modak made from rice flour.

This is an easy method as it takes less time, but the effort is there. It takes less time as you don’t need to steam them.

I have very sweet memories associated with Modak and I guess that will be case with many of you who celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi festival.

Modak is one of the favorite sweet of the Hindu God, Bhagwan Ganesha and is specially prepared as a prasadam during the Ganesha festival.

Bhagwan Ganesha also loves ladoo. So Coconut ladoo and Rava ladoo are also made during Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

semolina modak or rava modak served on a plate

You can also use the modak mould to make things easy for you or do the traditional way of shaping with your hands.

If you prefer the mould then you can also check these other modak varieties as i have used the moulds while making these recipes and shown the method in stepwise photos: 

For complicated recipes, generally I write step-by-step post and nowadays I have started making videos. But for this recipe, I will be sharing both step by step post as well as a video. The recipe has been adapted from the Marathi cookbook “Annapurna” by Mangala Barve.

Note that if you are making this dish for Bhagwan Ganesha then make sure all your ingredients are fresh. Don’t taste any of the ingredients or sweet filling while cooking. Ensure purity and cleanliness. Cook with devotion and prayerfulness.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Rava Modak

Making the sweet stuffing

  1. In a heavy pan or kadai add 1.5 cups of powdered jaggery and 1.5 cups of grated fresh coconut. Keep the pan or kadai on a low heat. Stir the mixture often.
jaggery and coconut in a pan

2. The jaggery would start melting at first. Later it will continue to cook. Cook this filling mixture till the jaggery starts thickening and there are no liquids in the mixture.

jaggery and coconut filing getting cooked in the pan

3. Don’t overcook as then the mixture would become dense and hard. Keep aside for cooling the filling. As the filling cools it will thicken.

Once the mixture is cooked then switch off the heat and add ½ teaspoon cardamom powder. Stir and mix well.

cooked coconut jaggery mixture

Making rava dough

4. Take 2.5 cups of water in a saucepan or any pan. Add 2 teaspoon oil or ghee and ¼ teaspoon salt in it.

water in a saucepan

5. Bring the water to a rolling boil on medium-high to high heat. Once the water comes to a rolling boil then switch off the heat. Place the pan on kitchen countertop.

boiling water in the pan

6. Add the semolina or rava to the hot water. Use a finer variety of rava.

rava added to water

7. Stir with a wooden spatula or spoon till all the rava has been incorporated in the water. Mix really well. Ensure that there are no lumps. If the rava mixture looks dry and loose then add a few tablespoons of hot water to it.

mix rava with water

8. Now place this pan on low heat for 5 to 6 minutes. Continuously stir so that the rava does not stick and get burnt. After five minutes switch off the heat.

Cover the pan with a lid for 5 to 6 minutes. Taste a pinch of the dough (only if you are making this for your family). If the rava feels under cooked, then cook for a few more minutes.

Ensure that the rava is cooked well. Undercooked rava can give stomach aches.

place rava water mixture on heat

9. The dough would be still hot when the kneading has to be done. If you cannot manage the heat, then let it cool for a few minutes more.

Knead well and make a smooth dough. When kneading apply some oil on your palms. There should be no lumps in the dough after kneading.

kneading rava mixture dough

Making rava modak

10. Now take a lemon sized ball from the dough.

taking one rava mixture dough ball

11. Flatten the dough ball on the palm of your hands

flatten the dough ball

12. Or press the edges with your fingers and keep on moving the dough circle.

pressing edges of dough ball

13. Place a few spoonfuls of the coconut-jaggery filling in the center.

adding sweet filling to flattened dough ball

14. Pinch the edges and bring the fluted edges in the center.

shaping rava modak

15. Join the center and pinch the top. Taper the top. Shape and make all the rava modak in a similar way.

shaping rava modak

16. You don’t need to steam them further. Serve the rava modak to Bhagwan Ganesha.

You can also enjoy them as a sweet snack. It is best to have them as soon as they are made. Any leftover semolina modak kept in the fridge will become dense.

rava modak served in a plate

If you are looking for more Ganesh Chaturthi festival recipes then do check:

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

Rava Modak | Semolina Modak

Rava Modak are sweet dumplings made with semolina and stuffed with coconut jaggery filling and flavored with cardamom powder.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine Indian, Maharashtrian
Course Desserts
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 14 rava modak
Units

Ingredients

  • 2 cups semolina (fine sooji or fine rava)
  • 1.5 cups grated coconut
  • 1.5 cup powdered jaggery or add as required
  • 2.5 cups water
  • ½ teaspoon green cardamoms – or 4 to 5 green cardamoms crushed or powdered
  • 2 teaspoon oil or ghee
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or add as required

Instructions
 

Making the stuffing

  • Mix the powdered jaggery with the coconut in a heavy pan or kadai.
  • Keep the pan or kadai on a low heat. Stir the mixture often.
  • The jaggery would start melting at first. Later it will continue to cook.
  • Cook this filling mixture till the jaggery starts thickening. It should not have any liquids in it. Once the mixture has cooked then add the cardamom powder and mix well.
  • Don’t over cook as then mixture would become dense and hard.
  • Keep aside for cooling the filling. Note that as the filling cools it will thicken.

Making rava dough

  • Take water in a saucepan or any pan. Add oil and salt in it.
  • Bring the water to a rolling boil. When it comes to a rolling boil then switch off the heat and place it on the kitchen countertop.
  • Add the semolina or rava to the hot water.
  • Stir with a wooden spatula or spoon till all the semolina has been incorporated in the water.
  • Mix really well. Now keep this pan on low heat for 5 to 6 minutes.
  • Continously stir so that the rava does not stick and get burnt.
  • After five minutes switch off the heat.
  • Taste a pinch of the dough. (only if you are making this for your family and not for Bhagwan Ganesha).
  • If the semolina feels undercooked, then cook for a few more minutes. Ensure that the rava is cooked well and not undercooked.
  • Cover the pan with a lid for 5 to 6 minutes.
  • The dough would be still hot when the kneading has to be done.
  • If you cannot manage the heat, then let it cool for a few minutes more.
  • Knead well and make a smooth dough.
  • When kneading apply some oil on your palms. There should be no lumps in the dough after kneading.

Making rava modak

  • Now take a lemon sized ball from the dough.
  • Flatten the dough ball on the palm of your hands or with your fingers.
  • Place a few spoonsfuls of the coconut-jaggery filling in the center.
  • Pinch the edges and bring the fluted edges in the center.
  • Join the center and pinch off the top. Taper the top.
  • Make the rava modaks in a similar way.
  • You don't need to steam them further.
  • Serve rava modak to Bhagwan Ganesha.

Video

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Rava Modak | Semolina Modak
Amount Per Serving
Calories 266 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Sodium 49mg2%
Potassium 125mg4%
Carbohydrates 43g14%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 23g26%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2mg10%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Calcium 21mg2%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 45µg11%
Iron 2mg11%
Magnesium 26mg7%
Phosphorus 60mg6%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Rava Modak post from the blog archives first published in July 2013 has been republished and updated on 3 September 2021.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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19 Comments

  1. Used 1.5 cups of semolina instead of 2 cups, dough is easy to work with…..modaks turned out good, good recipe, thanks for sharing it!5 stars

    1. Welcome Nupur. Thanks for your positive feedback on rava modak and for your suggestion.

  2. thank u soo much for this recipe. it helped me a lot for making the modak…thankssss…….5 stars

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