Goa
not only has a varied culture but also a diverse cuisine. The famous
cuisine of Goa is a must try for all those who are traveling to this
wonderful place. Many people tend to limit the Goan cuisines to rice,
fish and curry. Agreed, that is the traditional food of Goa and makes
the daily meal of a happy Goan. But the local food of Goa goes beyond
just rice, fish and curry. The cuisine of Goa is sure to leave your
taste buds asking for more and there is definitely a lot to choose from.
The variety in Goan cuisine is due to the fact that this place has been
ruled over centuries by the Mughals, Hindu rulers, Portuguese, etc. who
have really left a permanent mark on the traditional style of Goan
cooking and have given it an exotic edge.
One of the most famous cuisines of Goa is the Ambot-tik. It is an
exotic sweet and sour dish made of fish. Goa is famous for its sea food
which is eaten and relished by people almost religiously! A die hard
non-vegetarian will have the time of his life relishing sea food in Goa.
Another traditional Goan snack would be Pao com Chouricos which is
basically fried Goan sausage, sautéed with onions and served with
bread. The typical Portugal style of soaking meat in a concoction of
spices before cooking has been adopted as the typical Goan style of meat
preparation.
Yet another very famous and delicious local food of Goa is the Pork
Vindaloo in which pork is cooked in spicy and oily gravy. They say if
you taste the Pork Vindaloo once, you won't like any other pork
preparation! One can also find many common dishes like prawns, chicken,
beef, etc. in Goa. Almost every other Goan dish uses rice, fish or curry
in the preparation of a traditional food item. Coconut is also an
important ingredient in Goan cuisine. Many dishes use coconut milk to
give it a different aroma and an exotic flavor. The traditional Goan
cuisine is not for those with a weak digestion though. The food is quite
pungent and spicy and you don't want your stomach to grumble after
indulging sinful gluttony!
Goa truly offers a palatable cuisine which should be tried at all
costs. The best places to try local Goan cuisines are those small
roadside restaurants. They may not have the looks of a grand five star
hotel but they sure provide services that will win your heart over. You
can expect the warmest people to provide you with every comfort they can
afford. The food is prepared with generous doses of love and devotion.
So make sure you try the traditional Goan cuisine that is sure to add
spice to your vacation in Goa.
