Goa is a land of contrasts. There are beaches, beaches and more beaches, but there’s also a rich Portuguese heritage that influences the gastronomy. The Goan dishes below use ingredients from these regions to give you a taste of the respective cultures.
Banana Leaf Sausage
Choriz is a spicy pork dish that was popular in Goa during Portuguese times, but now the dish has become quite common in many restaurants and homes. It is cooked in a spicy sauce and served with rice.
Goan Fish Curry
Goan fish curry is a staple of Goan cuisine. Fish curry is usually made with kingfish, mackerel or pomfret and served with rice and papaya. This dish has a spicy flavor that brings you the essence of Portuguese era cuisine.
Sanna – steamed salty rice cake
raw material:
1 cup rice noodles (available at grocery stores)
1 tsp salt
The oil for frying can be vegetable oil or sunflower oil. If you want to use coconut oil instead of regular oil, add a few drops of lemon juice to it to keep the rice cakes from sticking. You can also add 2-3 tablespoons of grated coconut if desired.
Rissole – Delicious Fried Pastry
Rissole is a delicious fried pastry with minced meat filling. It originated in Goa and can be found at roadside stalls for breakfast or lunch. There are many variations of this dish, but the most common are chicken or beef as the main ingredient. Another variation is to add fish to the mix and turn the jerky into a seafood dish!
Rissels look like samosas—the difference is that they’re much thicker than Indian ones because they’re made with bread dough instead of chapati flour (Indian flatbread). This makes them more durable than samosas when fried, as they retain their structure even after frying. They also have more filling inside as there is less usable space on each side of each slice compared to other snacks on this list like pav bhaji due to the thick filling!
Barchao
Balchao, a spicy fish curry, is a popular Goan dish. It is made with fish, spices and coconut milk and served with rice. The word balchao means “belly” in Portuguese, so the dish is named after the belly of a fish (or any kind of animal).
These Goan dishes are influenced by Portuguese cuisine. Goa is a historical region on the west coast of India. It was once ruled by the Portuguese, who left their mark on the region’s food and culture. Some of these recipes are influenced by Portuguese cuisine, while others are more Indian. Whether for a snack or a full meal, these Goan dishes will give you a taste of Portuguese cuisine. The dishes are influenced by their neighbors in the area and still retain some original flavours. There could be more dishes on this list, but we’ve covered the most popular ones that you should definitely try at least once in your life!
