Steamed Manda Pitha/ Modak Recipe

Margashirsha maas or Margashira masam is the ninth month as per traditional Hindu calendar. It is believed as one of the auspicious months for Hindus.
During Thursdays of Margasira month, women observe a vrat called “Margashira Lakshmi Vara Vratham”. This Vrat is also called as “Manabasa Gurubar Vrat”.
Women, Who observe Manabasa Gurubar Vrat wake up early in the morning, clean their homes, perform ritual bath and Draw beautiful kolams in tamil, Jhoti/Chita in odiya,  rangoli/alpana in hindi and foot prints of Goddess lakshmi at the entrance. They draw footprints because it is invitation to the goddess lakshmi to visit their home.

While performing puja, people give different types of Prasadam such as Fruits, Dry fruits, Panchamrita and sweets etc. In odisha, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped during the day by offering ten manda pitha along with fruits and Panchamrit. In this Puja different type of tasty cuisine like Manda Pitha, Khiri, Kakara, Chitau etc. are prepared and distributed to neighbours.

In coming days I am going to share the some traditional recipes…
I will start with Sijha Manda Pitha which is healthy dessert, steamed yet really delicious…

It is prepared in all parts of Odisha during festivals falling on Monsoon like Raja, Ratha Yatra and Post Monsoon seasons like Manabasa guruvar, Durga Puja, Kumar Purnima, Gamha Purnima etc.

In Maharastra, its known as Modak(only the shape differs  ) famous Prasad during Ganesh Puja


Ingredient :

For Stuffing

Desiccated Coconut  1 Cup
Cottage Cheese (optional)  1 Cup
Sugar(or as per taste)/Jaggery 6-7 Tblsp 
Cardamom Powder 1/2 Tblsp 
Black pepper Powder 1/4 Tsp 

For outer Covering

Rice flour 2 cups 
Water  4 cups 
Salt  1/4 tsp 

Method : 

1. For the stuffing, Put coconut, chenna and sugar  on a pan and cook for 5 minutes
2. Add cardamom powder and black pepper powder and mix well
3. Stop cooking and Now let the stuffing mixture cool for sometimes

(Note: For  making chenna/cottage cheese, Boil the milk and then curdle with a small amount of whey/lemon and collect the resulting wrap it in a cheesecloth/any cloth. Make sure extra watery fluid is strained completely)


1. Now for the outer covering, soak rice 
2. flour in 2 cups of water for 1/2 hour (or you can soak rice in water for 1 hour and grind it wet to it to make batter )
3. Take 2 cups of water on pan and add salt . Let it boil. Now lower the flame to minimum
4. Add soaked rice flour/batter and slowly stir till it soaks up all the water
5. Now switch off the flame and let it cool
6. Make ball out of it and stuff the Coconut and Chhena mixture 
7. Steam it for 15 minutes inside a steamer or idly cooker

Tips: You can put rice flour balls with stuffing on the banana leaf and steam it inside steamer or idly car. It will add a pleasant smell in Steamed Manda Pitha/Modak.