Share
When travel enthusiasts in India make a bucket list of domestic destinations they want to explore, Goa ranks among the top five. Blue waters, cascading waterfalls, clean beaches, adventure activities, forts, churches, and nightlife attract tourists across the globe. Amid this, tasting delights from the Goan cuisine should be your top priority.
Video Credit: Platin' It With Wendy
The coastal state is known to be the birthplace of some of the most exquisite dishes, including seafood delicacies. With coconut milk and local spices, flavourful meals are crafted that are sure to leave you licking your fingers and plate clean. If planning a holiday in India’s smallest state, you must savour the famous dishes of Goa.
7 Famous Foods Of Goa
Goan Fish Curry
When you think about Goa, you imagine the Arabian Sea coastline and the fishing community catching and selling fresh produce every day. Despite your packed travel itinerary, you have no excuse not to try Goan fish curry. It is not just a staple in local households but a recipe that encapsulates the essence of the regional cuisine. Pomfret or kingfish are cooked in a coconut-based tangy curry and served with rice.
Prawn Balchao
Prawn balchao is another gem that is a part of Goan cuisine. Every non-vegetarian and seafood enthusiast should taste this one-of-a-kind delicacy that was reportedly brought to India by the Portuguese. Conventionally, the Catholic community of the state cooks this delight in which fried prawns are prepared in a tangy sauce and served as a side dish with a festive or special spread. It is also referred to as prawn pickle which globetrotters can purchase and take home the taste of the regional food.
Video Credit: Platin' It With Wendy
Pork Vindaloo
Pork vindaloo is among the most popular meat-based delights consumed in Goa. It is also a derivative of Portuguese cuisine. First, pork is marinated in a concoction of garlic, vinegar, spices, and red chillies. Vindaloo, vinho in Portuguese means wine vinegar and alho refers to garlic, is the curry boasting a fiery red hue and spicy taste. Pair this with naan, local bread, or rice to enjoy its complex flavours.
Goan Sausages
The Goan cuisine is full of surprises if you dive deeper into its depth rather than exploring the extent of the state’s coastline. Chorizo is the local name of sausages available in Goa. It is considered a delicacy among the natives and non-veg food lovers. This dish is made by marinating the pork meat in a spicy blend of garlic, chillies, turmeric powder, vinegar, and ginger. It is usually stored half-cooked so that whenever a customer orders it, the restaurant owners can present it as soon as possible. Many tourists also purchase it on their trip to Goa to bring home the local flavours.
Goan Prawn Curry
When you study the culinary landscape of Goa, aquatic produce and pork represent the major chunk of it. Apart from fish, prawns are widely consumed among locals. The speciality of this dish is the use of kokum, a fruit-bearing tree native to the Western Ghats. Its flesh is added to the curry to make it nutritious and scrumptious. The curry also has spices and coconut milk that season and tenderise the prawns.
Fish Recheado: Goa’s Flavourful Delicacy
Recheado is the spicy masala available across Goa. The curry paste is a regional recipe to cook a variety of marine produce, especially mackerel or pomfret. The spices and tangy elements in this paste balance the freshness of fish and infuse its meat with lip-smacking flavours. You can purchase a pack of this paste, take it home, and cook fish in Goan style like a pro.
Sannas
Like idli and its variants are counted among everyday meals in Southern India, sannas hold the same importance in the culinary landscape of Goa. There are a few differences in the recipes of the two delights. Unlike idli, you do not have to soak rice overnight but a couple of hours is enough. The grains are blended with toddy, salt, grated coconut paste, and sugar. Once the batter has been left aside to ferment for a few hours, sannas are prepared by steaming the batter. The ones stuffed with coconut and jaggery are not to be missed. These are served with Goan curries.
