Manda Pitha Recipe (Odiya Style Modak)
Manda Pitha, also known as the Odia-style Modak, is a traditional sweet from Odisha, India, often made during festive occasions or special prayers. This delightful treat is filled with coconut and flavored with cardamom, creating a perfect harmony of flavors. Manda Pitha is deep-fried to a golden crisp and then soaked in a fragrant sugar syrup, making it irresistibly delicious. You can serve this sweet treat with Oriya Kakharu Phula Bhaja (Pumpkin Flower Fritters) and Pheki Mathri (Crispy Fried Savory Fritters) for a delightful snack-time experience. This recipe will walk you through every step of making this mouthwatering dessert!
Cuisine:
Odiya (Oriya) Cuisine
Course:
Dessert
Diet:
Vegetarian
Ingredients:
For the Dough:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Whole Wheat Flour | 500 grams |
| All Purpose Flour (Maida) | 250 grams |
| Salt | 1 pinch |
| Oil (hot) | 2 tablespoons |
For the Filling:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Fresh Coconut, grated | 1 cup |
| Sugar | 1 teaspoon (adjust) |
| Cardamom Powder (Elaichi) | ½ teaspoon |
| Cloves (Laung), powdered | 2 cloves |
| Oil | for deep frying |
For Sugar Syrup:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Sugar | 1 cup |
| Water | 1 cup |
Preparation Time:
20 minutes
Cooking Time:
40 minutes
Instructions:
1. Preparing the Dough:
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and salt. Mix the ingredients well.
- Pour hot oil into the flour mixture and mix thoroughly. The oil helps in making the dough soft and pliable.
- Gradually add water a little at a time, kneading the dough until it becomes smooth and firm.
- Once the dough is ready, cover it with a damp cloth and set it aside for 10-15 minutes to rest.
2. Making the Coconut Filling:
- In a heavy-bottomed pan, add the grated coconut and sugar. Turn the heat to low.
- Stir continuously as the sugar begins to melt and caramelizes the coconut. Keep stirring until the sugar completely melts, and the mixture thickens and loses most of its moisture.
- Once the coconut mixture becomes dry and sticky, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool.
- Once cooled, add cardamom powder and powdered cloves. Mix well to incorporate the spices into the coconut mixture.
3. Shaping the Modaks:
- Divide the prepared dough into small, lemon-sized portions.
- With oiled hands, flatten each portion of dough into a small disc.
- Place a small spoonful of the coconut filling in the center of each dough disc.
- Gently bring the edges together, pinching them to seal the dough and form a modak shape. Continue this process for the remaining dough and filling portions.
4. Frying the Modaks:
- Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, carefully drop a few modaks at a time into the oil. Fry them, turning occasionally, until they become golden brown and crispy.
- Remove the fried modaks from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain the excess oil.
5. Making the Sugar Syrup:
- In a separate pan, combine sugar and water. Bring it to a simmer over medium heat.
- Let the syrup simmer for about 4-5 minutes until the sugar completely dissolves and the syrup starts to thicken slightly.
- When the syrup starts to form white bubbles, turn off the heat. The syrup should be slightly sticky.
6. Coating the Modaks:
- Dip each fried modak into the warm sugar syrup one by one, ensuring they are coated thoroughly.
- Place the syrup-coated modaks on a serving plate.
7. Serving:
- Your Manda Pitha (Odiya Style Modak) is now ready to serve! Enjoy it as a festive dessert or as a delightful snack during your evening tea time.
- For a more festive experience, serve it with Oriya Kakharu Phula Bhaja (Pumpkin Flower Fritters) and Pheki Mathri (Crispy Fried Savory Fritters).
Tips:
- If you want a slightly less sweet filling, you can reduce the amount of sugar according to your taste.
- The dough must be kneaded well to ensure it holds together while frying.
- You can also make variations of the filling by adding chopped nuts or dry fruits.
- If you find it difficult to shape the modaks, use a modak mold to help form them more easily.
Enjoy the crispiness of this traditional sweet, paired with the rich coconut flavor and cardamom-spiced sweetness that is sure to tantalize your taste buds!
