Khawa Modak

Khava Modak in Marathi

Time: 25 minutes
Makes: 15 small modak

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Khava (How to make Khova from Ricoota cheese?)
1/2 cup sugar (Imp tip)
2 to 3 tbsp milk powder
2 pinches cardamom powder

Method:
1) Grind the sugar to fine powder.
2) Microwave khava for 1 minute. Take the bowl out. Stir for 40-45 seconds. Microwave again for 45 to 50 seconds.
3) Take the bowl out and stir until khava cools down a little. When khava cools down and becomes warm, add powdered sugar and cardamom powder and mix well.
4) If the mixture is not thick enough to make modak, add milk powder. Knead with hands. Knead just enough to incorporate the milk powder.[Do not knead too much though.

Over-kneading makes the dough oily.] Let the mixture cools down a bit.
5) Take the Modak mould. Stuff the mixture and press. Open the mould and gently remove modak.

Tips:
1) If the Khava mixture is loose in consistency, add little milk powder.
2) After adding sugar, do not microwave.
3) Add 3 to 4 drops of yellow color to make modak yellow.
4) After grinding sugar, sift it through a fine mesh. Grind the remaining sugar as well. If you use ground sugar without sifting, you will get coarse sugar bits while chewing modak.
5) These modak can be made on stove top. Roast Khava over medium heat until butter oozes out. Then transfer roasted khava into a medium bowl. Stir until it cools down and becomes warm. Add sugar and cardamom powder and mix. Add milk powder if the mixture is still sticky. Use the mould to make Modak.
6)  In USA, khoya is usually available in Indian grocery stores, in the frozen section.