FOOD IN GOA

With a creative mix of traditional and western recipes, the hunting flavours of Goan cuisine will unforgettably tantalize your taste buds. Blessed with an abundance of seafood, the Goans find world class Jumbo Prawns, lobsters, crabs and pomfrets along the coastline and magically turn them into a variety of soups, salads, pickles, curries, and fries. Then there are the innumerable chutneys and ‘Racheado Masala’ that are typical of the state. From sea side eating joints to 5 star hotels fresh seafood and meats are dished up in exotic abundance: Fish Curry, Sorpotel (a pork dish), Chicken Xacutti, Chilli crabs, Tuna Salad, Prawns and crispy Mussel Fritters are few of the Goan delicacies. A coconut based traditional sweets and deserts are wonder from Goa’s kitchen.

Indeed a trip to Goa cannot be complete without feasting on the local delicacies.

THE FOOD CULTURE

The staple food of Gao is ‘Fish Curry and Rice’, among Hindus, Muslims and Catholics. But the main difference in the food habits of these communities that the Christian also eat beef and pork which are forbidden in Hindu and Muslim households. Goan food is spicy in nature and is a blend of Indian, Brazalian and the Portuguese cuisines.

SIMPLY INDULGE

After a heavy meal, relax over a glassful of Kokum curry, a tasty aperitif made from Kokum and coconut milk. Along with other homemade beverages is the famous ‘FENI’, an aperitif to precede all Goan food. Earlier the Goan distilled this from the fermented sap of the coconut flower-stalk, but, later they also made it from the fruit of the cashew tree. The Goans are as emotional about their FENI as they are about the cuisine.

FOR THE SWEET TOOTH

For those with a sweet tooth, Goan cuisine offers the famous ‘BEBINCA’. Made from eggs, coconut milk, flour and sugar, each of the scrumptious 16 layers of this sweet delicacy is baked to perfection. Other sweets include soft jaggery flavoured fudge called ‘DODOL’ made from finger-licking palm-sap jaggery, rice flour, and coconut. During Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, cone-shaped dumplings called “MODAK” are a favourite fare.

FROM THE GOURMET’S DIARY

Rice, Fish and Coconut are the basic components of the typical Goan food platter. Delicacies made from these three ingredients can be expected in nearly every Goan meal. Another essential ingredient in Goan cooking is coconut milk made by grating the white flesh of a coconut and soaking it in a cup of warm water. Equally important is the ‘Kokum’, a sour deep red colored fruit that gives the food a sharp and tangy flavour.