Savour the Portuguese Era: The Goan Dishes You Must Try
Goa is a land of contrasts. There are beaches, beaches and more beaches but, there is also a rich Portuguese heritage which influences the cuisine here. The Goan dishes below use ingredients from these regions and give you a taste of their respective cultures.
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Chorizo in Banana Leaf
Choriz is a spicy pork dish that was popularly served in Goa during Portuguese time, but now this dish has become quite common in many restaurants and homes. It is cooked in a spicy sauce and then served with rice.
Goan Fish Curry
Goan fish curry is a staple in the cuisine of Goa. Fish curry is usually made with kingfish, mackerel or pomfret and is served with rice and papad. The dish has a spicy tangy taste that gives you an essence of Portuguese era food.
Sanna – Steamed Savoury Rice Cakes
Ingredients:
1 cup of rice flour (available at grocery stores)
1 tsp salt
Oil for deep frying, you can use vegetable oil or sunflower oil. If you want to use coconut oil instead of regular, then add some drops of lemon juice in it to prevent the rice cakes from sticking together. You can also add 2-3 tbsp grated coconut if desired.
Rissole – A Savoury Fried Pastry
Rissole is a savory fried pastry with minced meat filling. It originated in Goa, where it can be found at roadside stalls for breakfast or lunch. The dish has many variations, but the most common one uses chicken or beef as its main ingredient. Another variation adds fish to the mix and makes rissole into a seafood dish!
Rissels look like samosas—the difference being that they are much thicker than their Indian counterpart since they are made with bread dough instead of chapati flour (Indian flatbread). This makes them more durable than samosas when deep-fried because they retain their structure even after frying. They also have more filling inside them because there’s less space available on each side of each piece due to how thickly filled it is compared to other snacks on this list such as pav bhaji!
Balchao
Balchao is a spicy fish curry that’s a popular Goan dish. It’s made with fish, spices and coconut milk and served with rice. The word balchao means “belly” in Portuguese, so this dish is named for the belly of the fish (or any type 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 food and culture of this region. Some of these recipes are influenced by Portuguese cuisine, while others are more Indian in nature. Whether it’s a snack or meal, these Goan dishes will give you a taste of Portuguese cuisine. These dishes are influenced by their neighbours in the region and they still retain some of their original flavours. There are many more dishes that can be included in this list but we have covered the most popular ones which you should definitely try at least once in your life!
