Ingredients
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200 gm Paneer
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1 cup Milk
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100 gm Cashew powder (grind 100 gm cashews on pulse mode to make a fine powder)
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Scant 1/3 cup Jaggery powder (adjust to taste; or substitute with sugar)
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A pinch of cardamom powder
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Ghee, for greasing
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Pistachios, chopped (for sprinkling)
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* A few saffron (kesar) strands, soaked in a little milk or water
About
We are welcoming Ganpati Bappa with these special Kaju Malai Modaks, and honestly, there is no better way to make Bappa happy! I’ve completely swapped out the refined sugar for jaggery, so you can offer the absolute best (and most delicious!) festive treat to our beloved Ganesha.
Nutrition
These modaks offer a wonderful balance of protein from the paneer and heart-healthy fats from the cashews. By opting for jaggery over refined sugar, you are getting an unrefined sweetener that retains trace minerals like iron and prevents sudden, sharp spikes in your blood sugar.
Estimated Nutritional Values (Assuming 1 serving = 2 modaks, based on 5 total servings):
* Calories: 265 kcal
* Protein: 10g
* Carbohydrates: 19g
* Fat: 17g
Steps
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1
Done
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Take the 200 gm paneer and mash it thoroughly until completely smooth. Set aside. |
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2
Done
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In a pan, add 1 cup of milk followed by the 100 gm of cashew powder. |
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3
Done
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Stir well until the cashew powder is fully mixed with the milk, then place the pan on a medium flame to cook. |
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4
Done
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4. Once the mixture starts to become thick, add a little less than 1/3 cup of jaggery powder (or sugar). You can easily increase or decrease this amount depending on how sweet you like it. |
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5
Done
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5. Let this mixture cook for a few minutes, then add your mashed paneer into the pan. |
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6
Done
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6. Continue to cook the mixture until it reaches a thick, khoya-like consistency. Be very careful not to overcook it or let it become absolutely dry. |
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7
Done
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Stir in some cardamom powder at the very end. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool down just a bit until it is warm to the touch. |
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8
Done
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8. While the mixture is still warm, grease your modak sancha (mould) with a little ghee. |
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9
Done
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Sprinkle some chopped pistachios inside the mould, then firmly fill it with the warm modak mixture. |
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10
Done
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Carefully unmold and garnish each modak with a dot of the soaked kesar. |
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11
Done
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Zero-Waste & Substitutes * Substitutes: If you are short on time, you can substitute the paneer and milk with store-bought khoya (mawa). If jaggery powder isn't available in your pantry, regular sugar or coconut sugar will work perfectly. |
