This dish is natively made for Ganesh Chaturthi festival in southern parts of India. Popularly known as paala undrallu (Milk modak). Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day-long festival every year. It is the most popular festival of Maharashtra. It is said Ganesh Chaturthi was started by Chhatrapati Shivaji and It is been celebrated since the days of Maratha rulers: Satavahana, Chalukya, and Rashtrakuta. Now it is mainly celebrated in southern states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh. Among them, Maharashtra is the state known for high scale celebrations.

Ganesh Chaturthi is also known as ‘Vinayaka Chaturthi’ or ‘Vinayaka Chavithi’ is celebrated by Hindus around the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is celebrated on 4th day of Hindu lunar calendar month of Bhadrapada maasa. Which is usually in mid-August to mid-September. Kudumulu or Undrallu are steamed sweet rice balls made of rice flour, Jaggery, typically made Andhra Pradesh state in India. They offered to Lord Ganesha on the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi (Vinayaka Chavithi). They are also called bellam kudumulu, teepi kudumulu, bellam undrallu. Fresh sweet potato crop comes in fall, though they are available throughout the year. Perfect time for Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri, and Diwali. Ganesh Chaturthi is also a festival of food. Lord Ganesh is said to be a foodie. His favorites varieties of Prasad are modak, kheer, Puran Poli, undrallu, kudumulu, and the list goes on. Foodies wait for mouth-watering food made of grated jaggery, coconuts, and dry fruits on Ganesh Chaturthi.

Ganesh Chaturthi is high spirit and enthusiastic celebration. Preparations start days before the festival. Preparations to make Ganesh idol to buying new clothes and planning for food etc. Ganesh Chaturthi is also a festival of food. Lord Ganesh is said to be a foodie. Many varieties of Prasad as modak, kheer, Puran Poli, undrallu, kudumulu etc are made and offered to him. Foodies wait for mouth-watering food made of grated jaggery, coconuts, and dry fruits.

There are four main parts of the festival – Pranapratishhtha, Shhodashopachara, Uttarpuja, Ganpati Visarjan. For visarjan reason, Ganesha statue is made of turmeric or dough or clay.

Paala undrallu

 

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Prep time

20 Mins

Cook time

20 Mins

Total time

40 Mins

 

Author: Ujwala Chintala

Serves: 5

Ingredients

• For rice flour
• 1 cup rice
• For gravy
• 1 cup milk
• ¾ cup Powdered Jaggery
• ½ Tsp Cardamom Powder
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp freshly grated coconut.
• 1 tsp Ghee

Instructions

1. One to three days before: Wash rice for 1-2 hours. Then drain water, and spread on a towel to dry. Dry for 1-2 hours depending on the heat in your area. Do not let it dry completely. Rice shouldn't have any dripping water. You should feel slight moisture. This time is perfect to grind.
2. Grind rice to flour. Do not store in an air tight container. For best results, take a wide baking dish, or plate, spread flour and loosely cover. If stored in a tight container, since it has moisture, the fungus will develop in 1-2 days.
3. On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi:
4. For rice balls
5. Take 1 cup of water. Boil in a pot. When boiling, simmer and slowly add rice flour. Make sure of no lumps. Stir and boil for 5-8 minutes with lid closed. When flour absorbs 80% of water, close lid and turn off the stove. Let it cool.
6. When cooled, take a small-sized dough. Roll into a ball. Dip fingers in ghee if the dough is sticking. Keep aside.
7. Roast sesame seeds and grind to a powder
8. For gravy
9. Add milk to a pot. Heat to medium. Add jaggery, ghee and mix well.
10. Then add the dough balls to the gravy and cook for 5 - 8 minutes.
11. Reduce the flame, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Add freshly roasted sesame powder, coconut, cardamom. Switch off the flame and set aside for 5 minutes.
12. Serve hot.

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