GOAN MAIN COURSE

PRAWN CURRY AND RICE

The majority of Goan population consists of the Hindus and the Catholics. Goa earlier being a Portuguese colony , the cuisine is a blend of the Portuguese ,Hindu and the Catholic cuisines. Being a coastal region, basic Goan meal revolves around Coconut, Fish and Rice . Most of the Goan recipes will have coconut as an ingredient in some form or the other.

GOAN FRIED FISH

The people of Goa are gourmet seafood eaters and use prawns, lobsters, crabs, and jumbo pomfrets to make a variety of delicious soups, salads, pickles, curries and fries.

Rice is eaten in different forms.
Rice is boiled in water and drained. This kind of rice is eaten during lunch and dinner.

A canjee is also made of rice. Canjee is prepared by boiling rice for a longer time than the meal rice, till it becomes soft and a little mushy.

The water is not drained out. Salt is added as per taste.

In the past canjee was cooked in a earthen pot called modki and was eaten as breakfast or as a light meal when ill.

MODKI

Rice flour is also used to make a variety of roasted breads.

Puffed rice is also used for preparing a variety of dishes during occasions such as diwali,  ganesh chaturthi , etc.

CHICKEN XACUTI

Fish 

Some of the popular fish varieties  are :

Pomfret , Prawns , Mackerels , Crabs, Oysters , Shell Fish, Kingfish , Cat Fish(Goan name:Sangta).

Indian Salmon (Raus) , Squids (Kalamari), 

Bombay duck (Bombil) ,Giant Sea Perch(Chonak) , Lobster, Tuna .This is only a small part of the never ending list !

SQUID(KALAMARI) MASALA

Fish is prepared in a variety of ways

Some of the popular dishes are:

CRAB XEC XEC

Fish Rechaedo , Fish Vindalo(onion, tomatoes,fish) , Coconut Fish Curry, Shark Ambot Tik(a spicy form of fish curry ),

Fish Fry , Butter Garlic Crabs, Masala Kalamari , Crab xec xec(coconut milk, masala and crabs), Fish Uddamethi (fenugreek, mackerel.A tasty gravy dish!) , Kismur (coconut , dry fish , onion), Fish/Prawn Balchao .

PRAWN BALCHAO

Apart from fish and rice , Chicken xacuti and chicken cafreal are also equally famous!.

This is only a small part of the Goan Main Course. There are a lot of traditional vegetable recipes prepared too!

This blend of various cooking styles and influences is what makes Goan food so unique among the cuisines of India. So the next time you visit Goa ,do not refrain yourself from savoring the mouth watering dishes of this exquisite cuisine!!

Till then Ciao!