Goan Christmas fare

Goa, located in the west part of India is the smallest state in the country. Surrounded by the beautiful state of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka in the east and south and western coast by the Arabian Sea, Goa attracts thousands of visitors every year.  Christmas in Goa is long-awaited festival and celebrated with much fanfare and enthusiasm. They decorate their houses with candles, cakes and gifts and dress themselves in pretty outfits. Christmas food in Goa is a combination of special items which include Sorpatel – a spicy Goan curry made with pork meat and liver, pork vindaloo, bebinca, fish xacuti, prawn Balchao and walnut fudge cake.

The small state is famous for its beaches and churches and rich and diverse cuisine. It’s a sea-food centric state and fish and rice is considered staple food. One gets to relish their taste buds with all types of fish, be it Pomfret, Tuna Shark and shellfish which includes Crabs, Lobsters, Prawns and Squid. Sea food is by and large a must on the carte du jour.

Portuguese had a lot of influence on the Goan cuisine. They were the ones who brought tomatoes, potatoes, cashew nuts and guavas to the state as well as introduced the use of chilli, which later on become very popular. These ingredients were not put in use until they were introduced by the Portuguese.   Typically, Goan food is segregated into two segments based on two major religions – Hinduism and Christianity. While Hindu food is said to have picked up only a handful of Portuguese taste, Christian food has picked it up big time. 

Although Goa is more about sea-food, there is enough room of vegetarians to stop fretting and look for authentic veg delicacies. Khatkaten is an exotic vegetable stew, which is extremely popular during festivals. It is made of five vegetables, special Goan curry spices and coconut.  Then there is vatana masala, pineapple and mago sasvam, karantim suken, mushroom tondak and jackfruit curry. Goan’s take extreme pleasure in cooking as much as they take in eating.  

Make it a point to pick on some healthy snacking if you are travelling to Goa. Make sure you taste try blue Goan Christmas fare and don’t forget to try Feni-Goan liquor, an essential ingredient to every Goan’s lifestyle.