We all know that the nightlife and the booze in Goa are an integral part of the hippie culture of the Goan vibes, but there’s more to it than you’d think. Even the food they serve has a huge influence of its Portugese history and Konkani culture. However, if you feel like sticking to your favorite, you can be assured to find everything from Mexican to Italian and everything in between.
As much as these international cuisines are favored, everyone loves the traditional Goan food here, including the foreign tourists! The world is full of food-loving people, and everyone wants to try out new gourmet dishes; and Goa surely doesn’t disappoint. The staple food of Goans, the ‘fish curry and rice’ remains people’s favorite. The local restaurants serving traditional Goan food are just as popular as the international food chains in Goa!
The origin of the Goan cuisine can be traced back to its various ruling empires, from Portuguese, French, Kokani, Malabar, Malaysian and so on. Let’s just say the Goan cuisine is a perfect blend of Eastern and Western influence!
The art of cooking in Goa extends to a wide range of menu, which usually leaves people confused as to where to start and what all to try. Goa feels a completely different heaven when looked at from the Foodie’s point of view. So here’s a list of the traditional Goan cuisine which will help you decide!
Rice, seafood, coconut, vegetables, meat, pork and local spices contribute to the magic of Goan cuisine. Since Goa has a seaside, the people highly rely on seafood for their diet. Some people even believe that a Goan meal is incomplete without fish! Goan meals also include Kokum in a lot of their recipes which bring out a special flavor to the dish. The Goan seafood constitutes of Kingfish, which is pretty common in their meals. Other seafood meals include prawns, pomfret, shark, tuna, crabs, lobsters, squids, etc. The Goan seafood is highly influenced by the Portuguese culture.
Since Goa is a multi-ethnic state which mostly comprises of Hindus and Christians, there are two distinct types of Goan cuisines to try out: The Hindu cuisine and the Catholic cuisine.
The Hindu cuisine is majorly pescetarian, and mostly comprises of rice and curries. It is comparatively mild, and involves heavy use of Kokum in it. Popular dishes involve Fried Fish, Daangar, Solkadhi and so on. On the other hand, The Catholic cuisine is a fusion of Indian and Portuguese cooking styles. Popular dishes involve Balchao, Croquettes and so on.
Here’s a list of all the top dishes to try out in Goa!