6 Must Try Goan Dishes During Your Next Family Vacation in Goa

Who would have imagined that Vasco da Gama’s arrival at the Malabar Coast would set off a chain of events that would shape Goa in the way that we see it today? Goa is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations, the first choice for the first-ever trip one embarks on with friends during their college days.

Its white sand beaches and its rich history influenced by Portuguese elements are to be credited for its appeal.

When it comes to Goa tourism, a treat to your senses is what you can expect. Regardless of what you do in Goa, you cannot miss the opportunity to savour the scrumptious treats it has to offer. You can taste the Hindu roots, 100 years of Muslim reign and 451 years of Portuguese colonisation in Goan food.

Goa is the perfect embodiment of cultural and religious harmony between the Konkani and Portuguese, so much so that you can even spot some of the Portuguese in Hindu temples. With rice, seafood, coconut, vegetables, meat, pork, and local spices being some of the main ingredients, Goan food gives you taste of the west while satiating your Indian taste buds. You could love seafood or be a vegetarian; Goa has something in store for all. Make your next trip to this place all about trying the delicious Goan food and be sure to try these six dishes:

• Chicken Cafreal
• Fonna Kadi
• Bebinca
• Goan Fish Curry
• Goan Khatkhate
• Shark Ambot Tik

1. Chicken Cafreal

This spicy dish is evidence of the heavy Portuguese influence. Often coupled with potato wedges, this dry chicken starter has mostly chicken legs and typical Indian spices tamarind, cinnamon, pepper, green chilli, mace, and clove powder. When in Goa, one must try this dish with Goan pao.

2. Fonna Kadi

One could call it the Goan variation of North Indian dish called Kadi. Fonna Kadi makes use of coconut milk instead of buttermilk (which is used in the North Indian Kadi). The use of coconut milk and kokum fruit reminds one that they are in Goa. With everything else being pretty much the same as that in the North Indian Kadi, another point of similarity is that this dish, too, is also enjoyed with rice.

3. Bebinca

Said to have been invented by a nun called Bibiona, this sweet delicacy uses a traditional ingredient-coconut. It is a multi-layered (seven layers) coconut cake, which doesn’t have a long list of ingredients but is said to be a tedious task to prepare. Its sweetness can be attributed to jaggery, which is one of the most prevalent sweeteners in India; even though Portuguese elements highly influence Goan food, there is still a lot of “Indian-ness”. This dessert, which is a unique fusion of the west and the east, is best savoured with ice-cream.

4. Goan Fish Curry

Being in Goa means that you have to try seafood, especially if you happen to enjoy it. This dish is prepared with pomfret fish and a wide array of Indian spices, which includes coconut, garlic, ginger, Kashmiri chillies, methi, and raw mango. It is best enjoyed with rice.

5. Goan Khatkhate

Given that seafood is so popular here, it might be overwhelming to be a vegetarian on a Goa culinary tourism experience. Do not be disheartened as this particular dish does not deviate from its Hindu roots at all. The Goan Khatkhate is a gravy dish made with yellow pigeon peas, Triphala, seasonal vegetables, and coconut gravy. Spicy and sour, this dish is best enjoyed with steamed rice or white bread.

6. Shark Ambot Tik

Don’t let the name of this dish scare you! The name of this popular Goan dish comes from the Portuguese words ‘Ambot’ meaning sour and ‘Tik’ meaning spicy. This dish is prepared by first letting the sauce and spices simmer over the stove, before adding the shark pieces and letting it marinate in the gravy. This dish is proof that Goan food can get experimental!

Now that your food itinerary is covered, what about tourism? Goa tourism is an experience you cannot miss. Beaches are certainly the hotspots, but is that just it? Saying that Goa is known only for the beaches might be an understatement as the place has so much more to offer. From beaches to forts to churches to temples, Goa is the place where you can let your hair down as well as get in touch with your spiritual side. The Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Mahalaxmi temple are must-visit spots here. While you roam around to satiate your wanderlust, you can also munch on some tasty street food of Goa including prawn chops, sorpotel and chicken lollipop that are sold in various food stalls and food trucks across the city.