Food and Cuisine

There is something special about the cuisine of the Queen of Beaches. Goan cuisine is heavily influenced by all the cultures that came into contact with the region. Like many other aspects of Goan culture, the influence of the Hindu, Christian, Muslim and the Portuguese kingdoms in the traditional food is very strong. You can observe this deep impact on the truly tasty and spicy cuisine of Goa.

Goa's location on the Konkan coast provides it with the exotic spices grown in the region, along with the other states on the coast like Maharashtra and Kerala. Fish, Curry, Rice, Kokam (a red coloured sour fruit), Aromatic Spices, Pickles, Coconut Milk, Tamarind, Palm Vinegar and a variety of Chutneys are considered the identity of Goan food. Almost all of these are used as ingredients in typical Goan veg or non-veg dishes for that extra bit of flavour. You will find people in rural areas preparing their food with firewood, in clay pots. This traditional method of preparation gives a smoky flavour to the food.

Vegetarian Specialties

• Mushroom Tondak (a curry dish)
• Khatkhatem (curry dish, a kind of mix veg)
• Sushelle and Karathiacho Kuval (chutneys)
• Mergolho (prepared by pumpkin and papaya)
• Breadfruit Curry
• Uned (a bread product)
• Sanna (steamed rolls made with rice flour, coconut)

Non Vegetarian Specialties

• Chicken Cafreal
• Beef Rolls
• Chicken Xacuti (made by chicken and coconut milk; other meat items can also be used)
• Pork Vindaloo (made with pork, wine and garlic)
• Sorpotel (made with boneless pork and toddy vinegar)
• Chouricos (spicy pork sausages)

Sea Food Specialties

• Dry Prawn Kismur
• Kalputi
• Crab xec xec
• Fried Fish and Fish Curry
• Prawns, Lobsters, Crabs, Pomfrets, Ladyfish, Oysters

Portuguese Specialties

• Fish Caldinha
• Sopa de Camarao (prawn soup)
• Fish Caldeirada
• Fish Recheiado

Sweets

• Bibinca (prepared by coconut milk, flour, sugar, coconut juice, eggs and ghee)
• Dhonos (prepared by jackfruit, coconut, ghee and jaggery)
• Christmas Cake
• Dodol (quite similar to toffy, prepared by coconut milk, jaggery, rice flour and cashews)

Liquors

• Feni (made from cashews or coconut)
• Beer, wine, gin and all kinds of alcoholic drinks

If you are a big food lover, you can find your favourite meals at the beach shacks, high end restaurants, traditional Goan 'family' restaurants, chic organic places, funky restaurants and even at the restaurants inside art galleries. These restaurants also serve a wide array of North Indian, South Indian, Chinese and Italian dishes.

The specialties are endless and you can satisfy your taste buds with a different dish everyday during your long vacations in Goa.