Ganesh Chaturthi, the 10-day festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, will soon be celebrated with great devotion across the country. From decorating Bappa’s idol to performing daily aarti and offering special bhog, devotees leave no stone unturned to please their beloved Ganpati.

It is believed that Lord Ganesha’s favorite sweet is modak. Traditionally, modaks are made with rice flour or mawa, but nowadays, many unique variations are prepared at home, from chocolate modaks to dry fruit modaks. This year, you can try something different – Makhana Modak, a healthy and delicious offering for Bappa.

Ingredients for Makhana Modak

• 1 cup makhana (fox nuts/lotus seeds)

• 2–3 strands saffron (soaked in warm milk)

• 2 tbsp ghee

• ½ cup milk

• Sugar or powdered sugar as per taste

• 2 tbsp milk powder

• ¼ cup mixed dry fruits (cashews, almonds, raisins, pistachios)

• Optional: cardamom powder for extra flavor

Method of Preparation

1. Roast the makhana: Heat a pan and dry roast makhana till they turn crispy. Once cooled, grind into a fine powder.

2. Prepare the base: In another pan, warm milk and add milk powder along with sugar. Mix well till it thickens slightly.

3. Add makhana: Now add the roasted makhana powder and saffron-infused milk. Stir continuously to avoid lumps.

4. Enhance flavor: Add ghee and mix until the mixture becomes thick and starts leaving the sides of the pan.

5. Add dry fruits: You can either add finely chopped dry fruits directly or make a powder of roasted nuts and mix it in.

6. Shape into modaks: Turn off the flame, let the mixture cool slightly, then fill it into modak molds. Demold carefully.

Your Makhana Modak is ready to offer to Lord Ganesha. Along with being delicious, these modaks are also healthy as makhana is rich in calcium, protein, and antioxidants.

Tip

If you like a richer taste, you can add a little khoya (mawa) while cooking the mixture. This will make the modaks creamier.