The Taste of Goa - More than just Fish & Feni Fish,
Curry and Rice being the staple food of Goa, traveler from the distant land
tends to think that food and drink in Goa means the famous fish, curry, rice
and feni. But contrary to their basic diet, Goan cuisine, has many flavours
and tastes with its vast treasure of culinary delicacies.
The
unerasable influence of the Portuguese, Muslim and Hindu flavour on the
original Goan cooking has resulted in an exotic mix of truly tasty and spicy
cuisine. A Goan values his food as much as he does his daily siesta (break).
And in his daily meal, seafood always has a pride of 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.
Althought modern technological convenience have almost completely taken
over in urban areas, the traditional way of cooking in clay pots on firewood
continues in most rural areas of Goa. This style of cooking adds an
additional smoky flavour to the food, highly valued by Goans.
Despite the two schools of cuisine traditions influenced by the respective
religions of Hinduism and Christianity; there are some meeting points that
present an interesting harmony. This blend of various cooking styles and
influences is what makes Goan food so unique among the cuisines of India.
With a wide variety ranging from sea foods to vegetable dishes to non-veg
dishes, Goan cuisine is able to satisfy almost every finicky gourmet
appetites. Goa has some magnificent culinary delicacies like the prawn balchão
and sorpotel which have become famous around the world. Most of the Goan
foods are 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 dishes are also highly
appreciated by Goans.
