Goa Cuisine
Visitors
to Goa tend to think that food and drink in Goa means the famous fish, curry,
rice and feni package. And for most Goans these are indeed the three basic necessities
of life -- fish, curry and rice. They combine to make a heavenly daily meal
for the average Goan. But Goan cuisine, like the land itself, has many flavours
and tastes with its vast treasure trove of culinary delicacies. The long period
of Portuguese rule, besides that of the Muslim and Hindu kingdoms, has left
an indelible influence on the original style of Goan cooking and this has led
to an exotic mix of truly tasty and spicy cuisine. Most people who sample Goan
cuisine, enjoy this different and unique style of food which has a distinct
and unique combination of spicy flavours. A Goan values his food as much as
he does his daily siesta (break). And in his daily meal, seafood always has
a pride of place is some form or the other. From fried fish to exotic concoctions
like ambot-tik, sea food is usually a must on the menu, except for the occasional
break for some religious observance. Goans take pleasure not only in what they
eat, but also how they cook it. Although modern conveniences have almost completely
taken over in urban areas, the traditional way of cooking in clay pots on firewood
continues in most rural areas of Goa. This style of cooking adds an additional
smoky flavour to the food, highly valued by Goans.
Despite the two schools of cuisine traditions influenced by the respective religions
of Hinduism and Christianity; there are some meeting points that present an
interesting harmony. This blend of various cooking styles and influences is
what makes Goan food so unique among the cuisines of India.
With a wide variety ranging from prawns to sausages, chicken to beef, and numerous
vegetarian dishes, Goan cuisine is able to satisfy even the most finicky gourmet
appetites. Goa has some magnificent culinary delicacies like the prawn balchão
and sorpotel which have become famous around the world.
While Hindu Goan food does not seem to have picked up any major Portuguese influence,
the Christian food has been influenced not only by the Portuguese, but also
by its overseas colonies. Traditional Goan cooking calls for plenty of muscle
and time. Grinding is always part of the recipe and the nicer the dish the longer
it takes to make.
Goan
food is simple but most, though not all, of it is chili hot, spicy, and pungent.
Items made from rice, fish, and coconut abound in nearly every Goan meal.
Seafood such as prawns, lobsters, crabs, pomfrets, clams, ladyfish, mussels,
and oysters are used to make a variety of curries, fries, soups and pickles.
Besides fresh seafood, dried and salted fish dishes are also highly prized by
Goans.
In this section we provide a selection of Goa's famous dishes with detailed
descriptions of ingredients and cooking methods so you can reproduce the exotic
flavor of the dishes in your very own kitchen.
So here is a taste of Goa and if you are travelling to Goa don't forget to pack
a healthy appetite.
