Kozhukatta (), kozhukkattai ( or kudumu ( కుడుము), Modaka (), Modak () is a popular dumpling made from rice flour, with a filling of grated coconut, jaggery, or chakkavaratti. Kozhukatta, although usually sweet, can sometimes be stuffed with a savory filling. Modak is a similar dish made in other parts of India.
Preparation
The dish is prepared by mixing grated coconut with
jaggery syrup, placing it inside dumplings of rice flour, and steaming the dumplings.
Ghee,
cardamom, finely ground roasted rice flour etc. may be added to enhance the taste and flavor of the filling. In Kerala, a variant of kozhukatta made with
atta flour (instead of
rice flour) and grated coconut is a staple breakfast among some groups.
Culture
In
Tamil Nadu, the dish is traditionally associated with the Hindu God
Ganesha and is prepared as an offering (
naivedhya) on the occasion of Vinayaka Chathurthi. In
Kerala, it is popularly associated with
Palm Sunday celebrations of Saint Thomas Christians.
It is also eaten as an evening
snack with tea or coffee.
Kozhukkatta is an important part of several natal customs of the Sri Lankan Tamil community. In Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka, there is a custom involving dumplings whose edges are pressed to resemble teeth being dropped gently on a baby's head while the family wishes for the infant to develop healthy teeth.
Making
Image:കൊഴുക്കട്ട ഘട്ടം1.jpg|Flatten the rice dough
Image:കൊഴുക്കട്ട ഘട്ടം2.jpg|Fill with the mixture of jaggery and coconut
Image:കൊഴുക്കട്ട ഘട്ടം3.jpg|Close the dough
Image:കൊഴുക്കട്ട ഘട്ടം4.jpg|Mold it into the shape of a ball
See also
-
List of Indian sweets and desserts
-
Thennai Kozhakkattai
-
Manda pitha
-
Momo (dumpling)
-
List of dumplings
External links
