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Christmas and New Year call for a grand celebration around the world, including India which is home to many Christian communities. Since December 25 marks the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, Christians celebrate the day with utmost enthusiasm and joy. Among many communities, East Indian Christians are believed to be the oldest in India.
The origins of the East Indian community in India can be traced to the first century when Christianity was reportedly introduced to the Indian subcontinent by St Thomas the Apostle. The cultural identity of the community emerged in the 16th century during the Portuguese colonial period. Also referred to as the Bombay East Indians or East Indian Catholics, the community has its roots in the seven islands that make up present-day Mumbai and the name East Indian was adopted during the British Raj in 1887. The community has a vibrant culture and a seamless blend of Portuguese and Maharashtrian influences.
Video Credit: The Maria Goretti Corner/ YouTube
With a history this rich, the culinary heritage of the community is valuable. With Christmas around the corner, Slurrp wanted you to dive into the traditional feast prepared by East Indian Christians. Who better to share a glimpse of the authentic dishes prepared by the community on Christmas than Chef Maria Goretti, who is not only an amazing chef but also a TV host and an actor?
Dive Into East Indian Christian Christmas Feast With Chef Maria Goretti
In this fast-paced life, millennials, Gen Zs, and boomers are often quoted saying that festivals were celebrated with more enthusiasm when they were children. Now, offices have an annual calendar marked with a day or at most two holidays for the festival.
Image Credit: Maria Goretti/ Instagram
Sharing about her childhood and the feast prepared at her home, Chef Maria Goretti said, “We used to always have baked chicken.”
“We would have fugias, which is fried bread. It’s a very East Indian preparation,” she added with excitement in her tone. Fugia is a slightly sweet, deep-fried bread prepared with a fermented mixture to accompany bafat, vindaloo, or sorpotel.
Image Credit: Suprita Mitter, Slurrp Editor
Bafat is a Mangalorean/ Goan dish prepared using ground and dried spices to season vegetables and meats, especially pork. Vindaloo, is an Indian dish based on Portuguese carne de vinha d’alhos. Meat is cooked in a spicy and creamy blend of chillies, coconut milk, and popular coastal spices. It is also a common dish prepared in East Indian Christian households during Christmas. Sorpotel or sarapatel is a sour and spicy Portuguese-Goan pork stew that compliments the sweetness of fugias.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
On the sides, Waldorf salad with walnuts and mayonnaise used to be served at Chef Maria’s home. It comprises fresh fruits and nuts, making it a refreshing and irresistible addition to the menu. “We used to have some vegetables on the side, like gawar bhaji. We definitely had baked potatoes. There would always be Christmas cake because it’s Christmas. We also had mutton and duck moilee on the table,” she added.
Moilee is a coconut-based Portuguese-Indian gravy recipe boasting a depth of flavours. It has mustard seeds and curry leaves infusing meat with earthy notes. It goes well with Indian paratha or parotta and steamed rice.
It’s an understatement to say that the chef’s home used to exude party vibes even before you could gather for a luscious meal. “My mom used to do all of it. She used to prepare it over a span of time,” said Chef Maria Goretti while reminiscing childhood memories.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“My duties in the kitchen used to be peeling garlic, peeling onions, that sort of stuff. My mom did not involve me in cooking; also, I was not much interested in cooking. I feel like I missed out on a lot of learning because I wasn’t interested in cooking back then like I am now," chef added.
“It was Christmas so I loved all the dishes. Sometimes even Easter lunches would be this elaborate but it was altogether a different vibe around Christmas,” said Chef Maria.
This year, Chef Maria Goretti is preparing a feast suiting the Indian palette. “I am not making baked chicken but will be preparing various recipes using chicken and mutton. I am working on a Christmas feast which is very different from the traditional.”
