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Visitors to Goa tend to think that food and drink in Goa
means the famous fish, curry, rice and feni package. And
for most Goans fish, curry and rice are the three basic
necessities of life. They combine to make a heavenly
daily meal for the average Goan. But Goan cuisine, like
the land itself, has many flavours and tastes with its
vast treasure trove of culinary delicacies. The
Portuguese rule and the Muslim and Hindu kingdoms, has
left a great influence on the original style of Goan
cooking and this has led to an exotic mix of truly tasty
and spicy cuisine. This blend of various cooking styles
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influences is
what makes Goan food so unique among the cuisines of India.
Most people who taste the Goan cuisine, enjoy this different
style of cuisine which has a distinct and unique combination
of spicy flavours.
A Goan values his food as much as he does
his daily siesta (break). And in his daily meal, seafood
always occupies some place in some form or the other. From
fried fish to exotic concoctions like ambot-tik, sea food is
usually a must on the menu, except for the occasional break
for some religious observance. Goans take pleasure not only in
what they eat, but also how they cook it. Although modern
methods have almost completely taken over in urban areas, but
the traditional way of cooking in clay pots on firewood is
continued in most rural areas of Goa. This style of cooking
adds an additional smoky flavour to the food, highly valued by
Goans. Goan food is simple but most of it is chilli hot,
spicy, and pungent. Items made from rice, fish, and coconut
abound in nearly every Goan meal. Seafood such as prawns,
lobsters, crabs, pomfrets, clams, ladyfish, mussels, and
oysters are used to make a variety of curries, fries, soups
and pickles. Besides fresh seafood, dried and salted fish
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With a
wide variety ranging from prawns to sausages, chicken to
beef, and numerous vegetarian dishes, Goan cuisine is
able to satisfy the all people. Goa has some magnificent
culinary delicacies like the prawn balchão and sorpotel
which have become famous around the world. While Hindu Goan food does not seem to have picked up any major
Portuguese influence, the Christian food has been
influenced not only by the Portuguese, but also by its
overseas colonies. Traditional Goan cooking calls for
plenty of muscle and time. Grinding is always
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