Sweet Kozhukattai | Chana Dal Modak

Come Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra, come of the most favorite sweets of Lord Ganesha, the Modak. The 10-day long extravaganza is laced with the aroma and warmth of these jaggery-coconut stuffed rice flour dumplings, which become the Sweet Kozhukattai recipe down south popular during Vinayaka Chaturthi. This South Indian variation of modak is almost similar in its looks. But inside, is a filling of chana dal (Bengal Gram), coconut and jaggery. Hence, also known as the Chana Dal Modak.

About Sweet Kozhukattai

As I mentioned before, the Sweet Kozhukattai recipe involves the modak making process and methodology, similar to that of the quintessential Maharashtrian Ukadiche Modak. With just the stuffing being distinct, as the Chana Dal Modak has an addition of an extra ingredient, the Bengal gram or chana dal.

However, there is another original version of this sweet Chana Dal Modak, the traditional Kozhukattai, which has a stuffing of only coconut and jaggery. Thus, the ukadiche modak from South India.

I usually make modaks with this basic stuffing, but since the time I’ve known about the Sweet Kozhukattai, I’ve also started making chana dal modaks quite often.

Typically, a modak is the steamed, stuffed sweet dumpling that has an outer covering of rice flour. Hence, the Marathi ukadiche modak. Also, the Dry Fruits Modak, Kozhukattai and Sweet Kozhukattai recipe well-known in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, etc.

But then there can be other variations to these classic ones like a Fried Modak or even a Mango Modak, Mawa Modak and the likes. These days you can really find modaks and kozhukattais with some unique fillings, which may or may not be steamed.

Preparing modaks does take some time. So, either you can involve a help or prepare when all your remaining household work is over.

If you plan to offer the sweet Chana Dal Modak as a naivedyam to Lord Ganesha, then don’t taste them while preparing. Always use fresh ingredients and make them with a devotional state of mind and heart.

How to make Sweet Kozhukattai

Cooking chana dal

1. Rinse ½ cup chana dal (husked split Bengal gram) a couple of times in fresh water. Make sure to use fresh chana dal that is in its shelf period.

2. Then, add the lentils to a stovetop pressure cooker along with 1 cup of water. Pressure cook for 10 to 12 minutes on medium heat. 

The cooking time depends on the quality of dal. If chana dal cooks faster, then add ⅔ to ¾ cup water while pressure cooking.

3. When the pressure settles down naturally, then only open the lid and check the dal. If the dal has not softened, then you can pressure cook for a few more minutes. 

If there is a lot of water in the dal, then in a strainer, strain the dal and mash. There was hardly any water in the pressure cooker after the dal was cooked. So, I directly mashed the dal in the pressure cooker.

4. Mash the dal well. Some fine bits of whole chana dal are fine. Keep aside.

Preparing stuffing mixture

5. In another pan, take ½ cup tightly packed grated or chopped jaggery or jaggery powder and ¼ cup water.

6. Keep the pan on stovetop and on a low heat, heat the solution. Stir so that the jaggery melts.

7. Simmer till the jaggery is completely melted. Just melt the jaggery. No need to thicken the syrup.

8. Now, through a strainer, filter the syrup and keep it aside.

9. Take the mashed chana dal in a pan. Add the jaggery syrup.

10. Then, add ⅓ cup grated fresh coconut.

11. Stir and mix everything very well.

12. Keep the pan on stovetop and on low heat, cook this mixture.

13. On low heat, stirring at times, cook the mixture till it starts thickening.

14. The mixture will begin to leave the sides of the pan and become dry. Stir often.

15. This is the time when you need to switch off the heat. Remember not to overcook the mixture as it will become dense. The mixture also should not be too moist, otherwise it will be difficult to stuff the modaks with it.

16. Add ¼ teaspoon of cardamom powder. Stir and mix well. Let this mixture cool down.

Preparing dough

17. In a pan or vessel, take 1.5 cups of water. Place it on a stovetop on medium to high heat.

18. Then, add ¼ teaspoon salt.

19. Next, add ¼ teaspoon of sesame oil.

20. Allow the water to come to a rolling boil.

21. Reduce the heat and add 1 cup of rice flour, gradually.

22. Quickly begin to stir and mix the flour with water.

23. Stir till all the rice flour is mixed with the water.

24. Mix very well and switch off the heat.

25. Cover the pan with a lid and keep for 4 to 5 minutes.

26. Then, transfer the mixture to a thali or plate or you can keep it in the same pan.

27. Allow the mixture to slightly cool down. Knead it while it is still warm. But take care not to burn your fingers.

28. The dough should be soft and smooth. Cover it with a damp muslin or cotton cloth. Allow the dough to rest for 10 to 12 minutes.

Making Sweet Kozhukattai

29. Make small balls from the dough. They should be smooth. Some may get cracks, so just rub some water on your palm and shape them into balls again to get rid of the cracks.

30. Grease the modak mould with a bit of sesame oil. Close or lock the mould.

31. Put a dough ball in the greased mould.

32. Press the dough along the surface of the mould, so that a cavity or space is made.

33. Add the prepared chana dal stuffing.

34. Then, cover with a small piece of dough on top. Press to even it.

35. Open or unlock the mould. Gently remove the modak from the mould. Alternatively, you can flatten the ball. Then place the modak filling in the center.

Make small pleats bring all the edges together and join. Prepare all the modaks this way.

36. You can either use a steamer pan or use a pressure cooker to steam the modaks. Pressure cook for 8 to 10 minutes on low heat without the whistle/vent. If using a steamer pan, add 2.5 cups water to the steamer.

Let the water come to a boil. Keep the modaks on a greased steamer plate or on greased idli moulds. Now place the moulds in the steamer pan. You can also steam in batches. I steamed them in 2 batches.

37. Cover the pan with a lid and steam for 10 to 15 minutes on low heat.

38. Once the modaks are steamed, remove and keep them aside.

39. Sweet Kozhukattai is ready to be offered to Lord Ganesha.

Expert Tips

1. You can add more jaggery in this Sweet Kozhukattai recipe, if you wish to.
2. It is best you soak the chana dal for an hourish, and then cook it.
3. To make this Chana Dal Modak, you can cook the chana dal in a pan as well. Soak the lentils for 1 hour. Then, cook in a pan/pot with 1 to 1.5 cups water till the grains are softened.
4. Use fresh chana dal that is in its shelf period. Avoid using aged chana dal.
5. Shaping the modaks using a mould is easier. But if you feel you want to shape them with your hands and are good at it, go ahead that way.
6. For steaming the modaks, you can either use a steamer pan or even a pressure cooker.
7. It is best is to consume the modaks fresh, the same day they are prepared.

This Sweet Kozhukattai Post from the blog archives, first published in August 2016 has been republished and updated on December 2022.