Rice Paper Modak Rolls

An Asian twist to the traditional Indian modak. Soft and delicious rice rolls filled with Indian flavors. Super easy and fun to make especially for Ganesh Chaturthi festival!

What is rice paper modak roll?

It is a fusion delicacy which is basically Indian sweet coconut filling wrapped inside a Vietnamese rice paper sheet / spring roll wrapper, inspired from the concept of “Modak” and “Spring Rolls”.

Modak is a traditional Indian steamed rice flour dumpling stuffed with cardamom flavored sweet coconut filling.

Making of traditional modak is a bit time consuming and requires a little practice to make them perfect. That is where I got the idea of replacing the classic rice flour outer layer with rice paper sheet. Yes! you saw it first here!

So if you are looking for a quick and last minute modak recipe for Ganesh Chaturthi festival, this is for you!

Why you’ll love this recipe

Super quick and exotic!

Your kids can also participate in the making, trust me they will love wrapping the modaks.

No more cooking and kneading the rice flour dough!

It is a fusion recipe the retains the authentic flavor and taste!

Ingredients:

Rice Paper Wrappers – Use a good quality rice paper for the best taste and texture.

Coconut – I recommend using fresh or frozen unsweetened coconut in this recipe. However, you can swap it with desiccated coconut. If it is the case, add a couple of teaspoons of water while making the sweet filling to add moisture.

Jaggery – Use jaggery for the best and authentic taste and flavor. You can get it from any Indian store or online. If you didn’t find it, replace it with brown sugar or cane sugar.

Cardamom – Do not skip adding cardamom, it adds a great flavor to it. Use freshly ground cardamom or store-brought one.

Ghee – Ghee is clarified butter, you can get it from any Indian store. Do not skip this if you are not vegan. Adding a little bit of ghee will bring authentic flavor.

Saffron – It is totally optional. If you are using saffron, soak it in a tablespoon of hot water and add it on the folded modak rolls.

How to make it vegan?

Skip adding ghee or replace it with coconut oil.

Storage suggestions:

They taste best when freshly wrapped. If you are pressed with time, I would recommend to make the stuffing the day before and wrap them before serving.

The coconut filling can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Serving suggestions:

Serve it as a sweet snack with a cup of hot coffee or tea.

They are perfect for gatherings and parties.

They can also be made during Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

Tips & Notes:

Do not overcook the coconut filling. Remove it from the flame when the mixture becomes thick.

You can also add roasted poppy seeds, nuts or roasted sesame seeds.

Wrap them carefully to avoid breaking the sheet.

Step by step instructions:

Soak a pinch of saffron in one tablespoon of hot water and keep it aside.

Thaw coconut first if you are using frozen one.

Combine coconut and grated or powdered jaggery in a pan.

Keep mixing over a low-medium flame.

Keep stirring and cook until the mixture becomes thick.

Add ghee (if using) and cardamom powder to the pan and mix everything well.

Add nuts or seeds at this stage if needed.

Transfer it to a plate and let it cool completely.

Fill a wide plate or bowl with filtered water.

Take a rice paper sheet and dip it into water for 15-20 seconds.

Remove it from water and lay it flat on a plate.

Place two tablespoons of coconut mixture on the soaked wrapper.

Fold it tightly.

Carefully wrap it.

Watch the video to understand how best to wrap the modak.

Top them with soaked saffron and serve!

You’ll love these recipes:

• Thandai White Chocolate Bark
• Malai Modak
• Chocolate Makhana
• Fried Modak
• Rava Kudumulu
• Chocolate Sandwich
• Mango Kesari

How to make fusion modak with rice paper video below: