Introduction: 

Goa, the breathtaking tropical state located on the western coast of the Arabian Sea, features a predominantly seafood cuisine. The spices and liberal use of meat showcase the harmonious blend of Portuguese and Konkani influences. When it comes to the staple foods of Goa, you will see the incorporation of coconuts, rice, freshest catch, tamarind, pork, meat, and local spices like kokum. Many Goan food recipes include careful layering of spices, flavours, and textures. Coming back to popular seafood in Goa, it includes lobster, tuna, pomfret, basa, salmon, sardines, and mackerel. If you’re a food lover and often find yourself drawn to Goa, here are some of the best dishes to savour:

Food in Goa to try when you’re vacationing in the sunshine state: 

1. Fish Thali
2. Serradura 
3. Cafreal Pao 
4. Ros Omelette 
5. Chicken Xacuti
6. Bebinca 
7. Goan Bhaji Pav
8. Goan Pork Vindaloo 
9. Samarachi Kodi
10. Feni 

1. Fish Thali

If you have been wanting to try Goa seafood, a well presented Fish Thali is the best way to reward your taste buds. An absolute delight to savour, Goan fish thali encompasses typical local flavours, freshest catch and ingredients. A thali is essentially a platter which consists of numerous seafood items and a total of 7-8 items. Rice, lentils, stir fried vegetable preparations, pickles, papadum and a side of crispy fried seafood are often served with a good amount of fish curry or fry. Not only is this meal fulfilling but also easy on the pockets. The average cost of a Goan fish thali starts from Rs 120/- to 200/- only. 

2. Serradura 

Serradura is a popular dessert and holds a prominent position in the Goan dessert menu. The dessert is quite easy to whip up as it is made of easily available ingredients. All one needs is a packet of Marie biscuits, condensed milk, and whipped cream. You can start by layering the whipped cream and biscuits in a container one layer on another. Place the container in the fridge for five to six hours and the dessert is ready to be served. Many people these days try to make serradura with Oreo biscuits and other flavoured biscuits to give this pudding a modern twist. 

3. Cafreal Pao

The food of Goa is incomplete without its famous street food, cafreal pao, typically made from chicken and pao bread. Locally, it is also known as a bread cutlet. Its preparation uses simple techniques of layering and seasoning. Marinated pieces of chicken are cooked on a skillet and chopped into pieces. Then pao bread is sliced open and seasoning, veggies, sauces, and chicken pieces are added. It is something you would see selling warm and fresh on food trucks in Goa. You can buy it and enjoy a flavorful chicken cafreal pao on the go as you take a stroll in the Goan streets.

4. Ros Omelette 

Ros omelette, also known as Ras omelette, is one of the most popular street foods in Goa. The word ros comes from Konkani, which means gravy. In this dish, an omelette is prepared with typical ingredients like coconut oil, eggs, finely chopped green chillies, onions, cilantro, and salt. The omelette is cooked to perfection and kept aside. The spicy and fiery gravy, or ras, is prepared using oil, tomatoes, onions, garam masala, coconut paste, salt, kashmiri red chilli powder, and turmeric. Once the gravy is cooked, it is poured on the omelette and garnished with some chopped onions and Pav bread. A vegetarian version of this dish also exists, which is prepared by using boiled chickpeas, mushrooms, etc.

5. Chicken Xacuti 

Chicken Xacuti is another dish influenced by Portuguese culinary tradition but uses local ingredients for that “Indian” flavour. The dish includes white poppy seeds, sliced onions, toasted grated coconut, and large dried Kashmiri red chillies. The use of Kashmiri chillies is what gives the dish its district bright orange colour. And the use of grated coconut in the gravy provides a nice consistency to the dish. Due to the abundance of coconuts in Goa, Many Goa food recipes use a liberal use of coconut. The chicken, when cooked to perfection, is succulent and makes up for a hearty meal. Other than chicken it is also prepared with crabs, lamb, or beef. It is believed that Xacuti or Shagoti had its origins in Harmal village (now Arambol). 

6. Bebinca 

The most beloved dessert of Goa, bebinca is a sweet, flavorful, and multi-layered dish. It is prepared by using a mixture of ingredients like flour, coconut milk, egg yolks, sugar, and butter or ghee. Each bebinca has seven to sixteen thin layers of batter, which are cooked and grilled individually. The next layer is only added after the first one gets perfectly cooked. Getting the layers right is a challenging aspect of making bebinca, which makes the process labour-intensive. But all the effort seems worth it once you put a spoonful of bebinca in your mouth. This dessert is served on Christmas and many other festive occasions in Goa, sometimes with a dollop of ice cream and sometimes just as is. You will find bebinca in almost all cafes and restaurants in Goa. 

7. Goan Bhaji Pav

Unlike the regular pav bhaji, Goan pav bhaji, or tonak (curry), is made from chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes. It is one of the popular Goa food items worth trying. An interesting feature of this dish is that it is made up of grated coconut, which is blended with cooked onions and tomatoes until a thick puree is formed. Later, this puree is added to the boiled chickpeas, which are tempered by mustard seeds and curry leaves. At last, potatoes are cooked using Indian spices, added to the chickpea stew, and served hot with pav bread. It is a common breakfast option in Goa, devoured by both locals and tourists. You will find many cafes in Candolim, Calangute, and Panjim selling Goan bhaji pav. 

8. Goan Pork Vindaloo 

Pork vindaloo is one of the staple foods of Goa and is immensely popular. A culinary delight brought in by the Portuguese is one of the main dishes on the Goan menu. The word vin refers to vinegar; ahlo means garlic in the Portuguese language. An interesting fact to note is that the Portuguese were travellers, and their culinary tradition included items like vinegar, something that can preserve food items such as meats and vegetables from spoiling. The same influence can be seen reflected in many Goan dishes, such as pork vindaloo. Here the meat is cooked and prepared with a zesty sauce prepared with Indian spices, chilies, vinegar, and garlic, and served hot. It can be eaten with rice, naan, or pav bread.

9. Samarachi Kodi

Samarachi Kodi is a prawn-based dish that is ideal for enjoying during the monsoon season in Goa. This dish is prepared using garlic, ginger, tamarind, dry mango flesh, onion, turmeric, salt, dried prawns, freshly grated coconut, and other spices. The kodi is prepared by layering several dry and wet ingredients together. Once the curry is made, it has a pronounced tangy taste and is served hot with rice.

10. Feni 

Feni is a spirituous liquor made with coconuts and cashews in Goa. Since Goa is blessed with coconut palms, many dishes and drinks use it as a base to enhance flavour and texture. In cashew feni, the ripened cashew apples that have fallen on the ground are picked, de-seeded, and taken to the large utensils for stomping. The juices that come out are stored in earthen pots and fermented for three days. Similarly, the coconut feni is also distilled in large earthen pots and is consumed mostly in the southern part of Goa. You can buy the famous Goan drink, feni, in any liquor barrel shop in Goa.

To wrap up, the food of Goa gives your taste palette the best of both worlds. The Portuguese techniques of using preservatives and the Konkani techniques of incorporating spices to make the dish flavoursome describe the melting pot that Goa is. It is this harmonious blend of Indo-Portuguese influences that is not limited to local food but can also be witnessed in Goa’s luxury properties. If you are looking to buy a property in Goa and savour the Goan vibe, check out luxury villas and apartments by Veera Developers Group. Our latest project, Veera Eminence in Saipem, is the epitome of luxury and sophistication, with 4 BHK, a swimming pool, a terrace bar, parking space, and much more. Reach out to us today and book your dream home in Goa.

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