Goa is one of the most popular holiday destinations in India. The place is constantly crowded with tourists throughout the year. In addition to its beaches and beers, Goa is famous for its cuisine. Fish and rice are the staple food in the state. It’s a seafood lover’s paradise because Goan cuisine features a wide range of seafood. Every restaurant there has a staple menu of fish thali or seafood platter, which includes all kinds of seafood delicacies. The fish and rice thali - consisting of lemon rice, fish curry, grilled fish, pickles, and kokum sharbat - is everyone’s favourite. The cuisine also features a hint of Portuguese flavours because it was once a Portuguese colony. The dishes are a blend of Portuguese and Goan flavours that balance out each other very well.
Here are some of the dishes that you must try when in Goa-
1. Rava Fish Fry
Fish is a staple item of Goan cuisine. In this dish, kingfish is slightly spiced up and marinated with lemon juice and then fried in hot oil until it is crispy and golden brown. This dish can also be made with fish fillets. The batter includes semolina (rava), which gives it a crunchier texture and more delicious flavour than a typical fish fry. Rava fish fry is a crunchy, crispy, and spicy dish that serves as a delicious starter when you are enjoying a beautiful sunset on a sea shore.
2. Bebinca
The Indo-Portuguese dessert bebinca, often referred to as bibik or bebinka, is a traditional layered cake from Goa. It is the most well-known dessert there, and a delicious way to cap a meal. An authentic bebinca consists of 16 layers. Bebinca preparation takes time. The batter is made with flour, sugar, ghee, egg yolk, and coconut milk. The batter is spread thinly on a grill, and the layers are stacked on top of one another. Bebinca is served with a side of chilled vanilla ice cream and can be garnished with slivered almonds and nutmeg.
Pork vindaloo/ Instagram- the.internationalfoodtrail
Sorpotel is a red meat curry that is deliciously sour and hot at the same time. It is a Portuguese dish that is now prepared in India’s Konkan region. Whoever said eating stale food is bad for us was entirely incorrect. This pork dish tastes best on the fourth day rather than the day it is prepared! The fourth day is when this delicacy reaches its peak flavour after being cooked in the pot daily for at least 30 minutes. The sorpotel’s flavour gets entirely absorbed into the meat after continuous stirring and heat. Every Catholic home in Goa prepares this Portuguese delicacy during Christmas.
6. Goan Fish Curry
This fish curry, which is probably the most well-known on the list, is lip-smackingly delicious. The ideal fusion of spices, ginger, and garlic with coconut gives the thick curry its incredibly rich flavour. Lime juice is used to marinate the fish, and it also gives the curry its tangy flavour. This is a coconut curry that has a tomato base. Goan fish curry is a staple dish in Goa that is available at every restaurant and kitchen. This is a must-try dish when you are in Goa.
