6 Konkan Dishes That You Must Try

Konkan is a region that consists of the coastal side of Maharashtra, Goa and some parts of Karnataka. As beautiful as the Konkan coast is, snuggled between the Western Ghats and the Arabian sea, it has a rich culture of food that goes beyond the cuisine of all the three states. Right from beverages, to desserts to snacks and curries - Konkani cuisine is truly one of its kind and deserves more attention from foodies all over the country. If you want to explore the food of Konkan and get to know what all the hype is about, let us list out 5 Konkani delicacies that you should start with. Remember, once you taste Konkani food, there is no going back – you are destined to fall in love with the cuisine and the culture!

Kadamb with kolombo

This Konkani version of idli-sambar is unlike anything you have had before. It will completely change your perception of how an idli should taste. Kadamb looks exactly like idli but is made with cucumber, jaggery, coconut and rice and that adds a very different flavour to it. Another differentiation is that kadamb is steamed in banana or turmeric leaves. Kolombo is more or less like the typical sambar but it has a lot more vegetables than the latter. Kadamb with kolombo makes for a scrumptious breakfast option.

Sol kadhi

This is the signature beverage of Konkan region. Sol kadhi is the ultimate cooler during the extreme heat wave and is consumed to cool down the body. It is made with kokum and coconut milk and is usually mildly spicy, which suits the taste palette of the majority of people. It has brilliant digestive properties and is consumed at the end of a heavy meal. It can also be made without adding milk and putting extra ingredients instead like garlic and cumin to amp up the spice content.

Bharli means stuffed and vangi translates to brinjal, baingan or eggplant. If you are one of those who dislike the sight of brinjal, wait till you try this absolutely delicious dish from the Konkan coast. Every region of Konkan has a different recipe to make bharli vangi and each variation is equally good. The spices added inside the brinjal include special malvani masala, roasted spicy peanuts and poppy seeds. The gravy in Karwar region also includes coconut which adds to the overall flavour of the dish. In every feast of Konkan region, you will find bharli vangi being served – it is that special for the people.

Bombil or Bombay Duck

When discussing Konkan cuisine, it is a sin to miss out on the sea-food that it is mostly popular for. Mostly famous in Maharashtra, bombil fry is one of the most well-known delicacies to come out from the Konkan region. It is coated with spices, rawa and then deep fried. Bombil can be eaten fresh or dried and it is often served alongside alcohol or as a starter.

Patholi

A typical monsoon specialty, patholi dervies its name from being steamed in turmeric leaves. This dessert is the perfect ending to multiple flavourful konkani dishes. It can be seen as a sweet rice pancake or roll with loads of coconut flakes inside of them. It is traditionally consumed after adding ghee and is steamed in turmeric leaves, but in the absence of the latter, banana leaves can also be used to cook it.

It is a traditional Goan payasam recipe made with lentils. Sabudana, chana dal, jaggery, cashew and coconut milk are used to make this delicious dessert. The texture and taste of mangane resembles the perfect combination of a kheer and halwa. It melts in your mouth and drowns you in its rustic flavour.

These amazing Konkani dishes will make you want to explore the entire cuisine, the culture and the place. Afterall, the area is a rich treasure of amazing recipes and age-old traditions that have stood the test of time in being diverse, robust and flexible at the same time. Enjoy a Konkani meal and get lost in the authentic taste of it!