Planning a Goa Trip? Do not Miss These 10 Popular Foods

Goa is a paradise for food and drinks. Given that it is the most popular tourist attraction, there is a fusion of cultures and hence a huge variety for everyone. The native dishes of Goa can already get you mouth-watery and when mixed with other foreign dishes, they can bring the perfect vacation to you. Gear up for some food extravaganza, as Goa is not merely about seafood.

 

Bon appetit!

 

1. Goan Fish Curry

How can we start the list of the best food of Goa and not include the famous Goan fish curry before anything else? This dish is flavoured with a variety of spices and coconut. Raw mango is added for a tangy punch. The dish's key ingredients are a good-sized pomfret and raw mango. Kingfish can be substituted for pomfret. This Goa dish is served with rice. 

Image Courtesy: Serious Eats

 

2. Chicken Cafreal

Do you enjoy spicy food? Well, then you're in for a treat! Cafreal chicken is one of the most famous shack dishes made by grinding green chillies, herbs, and different spices together. The chicken is marinated for a couple of hours, and then it is deep-fried. This Goan meal does not require any accompaniments, however, it can be accompanied by salads. *We are already drooling* 

Image Courtesy: Joos Food

 

3. Sorpotel

The Konkani word 'Soro' means 'alcohol' or 'liquor.' Sorpotel (sometimes spelled sarapatel) is a traditional Goan dish. This dish features pork, beef, or mutton liver. The fat is fried after parboiling the meat. Onions, garlic and prepared masala are added along with other spices and herbs. Sorpotel can be eaten at any time of the day, however, some people prefer to eat it first thing in the morning. 

Image Courtesy: Vogue India

 

4. Ros Omelet

A common sight along the various streets of the tiny seaside villages and towns is hawkers selling this delightful and satisfying snack. It’s a medley of a masala omelet, nestled on a bed of hot chicken curry and served with a rustic pav or local bread. A favourite with youngsters, you can find many cafes serving this humble delicacy late at night.

Image Courtesy: Medium

 

5. Beef or Pork Assado

This is a popular Goan delicacy made with pork or beef, and, since it’s a slow-cooked dish, tough cuts of meat are tenderised and made more palatable. A recipe from the cookbooks of the masses, it’s a crowd-pleaser and usually finds its way onto the table for those special occasions or large family meals. It’s a preparation most Goans look forward to and relive their childhood.

Image Courtesy: Scroll.in

 

6. Feijoada

This Goan dish is a red bean and pork stew. The recipe is influenced by the Portuguese cuisine. To prepare this dish, chefs use salted pork, masala, and red beans which are then mixed together and fried. Instead of water, coconut milk is used to make the gravy, for a unique flavour and a thicker consistency. Rice or pois is served with Goan feijoada.

Image Courtesy: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

 

7. Pork Empadinhas

No Goan occasion is complete without pork on the table, whether it is roast pork, vindaloo, or sausages. Goans love their pork, and this delicacy is a favourite from grandma’s cookbook. These mini pork pies are perfect as appetizers for lunch or aslight evening snacks. Some are half-moon-shaped and resemble the patties of the Caribbean and some are shaped like muffins and coated with an egg wash to give them a rich and luscious texture and appearance. The boneless pork is flavoured with vinegar, tamarind, and feni, giving it a tangy aftertaste. The dough is made with flour, butter, eggs, and salt and is flaky and rich.

Image Courtesy: SBS

 

8. Guardanapos

These delectable snacks are filled with flavour and texture, and you may find yourself devouring many pieces before you realise what's going on. The base is a buttery, eggy sponge topped with a creamy, thick custard frequently flavoured with lime zest or vanilla. The cake is cut into squares folded in half. They are then dusted with icing sugar to complete them. Some modern versions use fruit-flavoured ganaches, some combine compotes and creams, pineapple being a hot favourite.

Image Courtesy: Graze Delights

 

9. Samarachi Kodi

Samarachi Kodi is one of the most famous and loved Goan food cooked during monsoon. It's a dry prawn curry. The key ingredients of this spicy, tangy masala are dry prawns, onion, coconut, tamarind, and tomatoes. To give it the traditional flavour and texture, coconut milk is added. Some people substitute Bombay duck for prawns. The finest accompaniment to Samarachi Kodi is hot rice and pickle.* Sign*

Image Courtesy: Delicious memories with Alves Fernandes 

 

10. Lulas Recheadas

Thali is a famous Goan seafood appetizer, usually made from fatty deep-water fish like mackerel (bhangda) that has been marinated and stuffed with a spicy rechado masala. It's coated with roasted semolina and pan-fried till the outside is crispy and the inside is moist and flavourful. It's the ideal accompaniment to your fish curry and rice. Although mackerel is used in the traditional dish, some restaurants use white pomfret instead.

Image Courtesy:  Ruralea

 

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So, which ones have you tried already? Bookmark this blog if you're planning your Goa trip!

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