Food Of Goa: 15 Dishes To Must Eat In 2024

Goa is packed with unique and stunning-looking beaches that add a certain flavour to this destination. It is a hub of adventurous activities like paragliding, snorkelling, scuba diving, etc. The vibes and enthusiasm of the place instantly change the person's mood and energy. But besides the beautiful churches and beaches, Goa can offer many more things. One such thing is lip-smacking cuisine.

The food of Goa is unique and delectable. You can’t find such cuisine anywhere in the country. It is influenced by French, Arab, and Portuguese cultures. So when you taste Goan cuisine, you get to understand the history of the place. Moreover, one can get the chance to experience international cuisine with the local touch of the place.

List Of 15 Famous Foods Of Goa

Many cultures inspire the cuisine of Goa, so you can get various options to try. Moreover, you can explore different cuisines in one place. Let’s list Goa's famous food so you can make a list of things you can order on your next trip to Goa.

• Crab Xec Xec - Crab dish that should be on your mind
• Pork Vindaloo - Add some spice to your meal with this curry
• Ras Omelette - Innovative way to make your snacking fulfilling
• Chorizo - The Goan version of sausage
• Poee - Pita bread of Goa
• Prawn Balchão - Pickle from the sea
• Feni - Exclusive alcohol for Goans
• Bebinca - Goan pudding that leaves an unforgettable taste on your tastebuds
• Patolea - Sweet dish to side with your tea
• Sorpotel - Special red curry with the right balance of sourness and spices
• Goan Khatkhate - Vegetable stew for your rice bowls
• King Fish Rava Fry - Instant refreshment for your taste buds
• Goan Chicken Xacuti - Fiery & relishing traditional food of Goa
• Feijoada - A bean and meat stew for non-vegetarians
• Goan Samarachi Kodi - The curry for the monsoon season & catholic pre-weddings

1. Crab Xec Xec | Crab Curry that Gives Solace to Your Heart

Goa is famous for its seafood. Hence, how can we miss this dish? Xec Xec is a type of Goan curry, and this dish is prepared in that curry. This curry has mild spices, coconut, and the tanginess of tamarind. The crab in this curry helps make it a delicious dish. If you haven’t tried crab yet, then dig into this dish.

2. Pork Vindaloo | Portuguese Dish with an Indian touch

This dish comes from Portuguese culture and is made up of two Portuguese words: Vinho (meaning wine) and Alho (meaning garlic). It originated when a Portuguese sailor prepared it with pork, garlic, and wine. But in Goa, the wine is replaced with vinegar. Hence, you will get a super spicy curry for your meal.

3. Ras Omelette | Ultimate Snack for Every Person in Goa

The word "ras" means gravy in the Konkani language. Thus it is an omelette with gravy. Generally, this gravy comprises chicken, chickpeas, or onions with coconut and other spices. The omelette contains onions, spices, green chillies, etc. Though they are cooked separately, they are served together with bread (pav). It is the soul of Goa street food.

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4. Chorizo | Sausages as Handy Snacks

It is a staple snack for mornings and evenings. These are pork sausages. You can find many vendors carrying a big basket and selling different spicy variants of chorizo. These are served with bread and are like a nutritious, ready-to-make snack.

5. Poee | Delicious Bread to Make Every Curry More Interesting

Well, how can we forget the bread options when it comes to the best food in Goa? Poee is a leavened bread (mix of maida and whole wheat flour) that is round, soft, and similar to pita bread. The dough is left to ferment for two days and then baked for two minutes. You can pair it with any type of curry.

6. Prawn Balchão | Add Fiery Flavour to Your Meal with this Pickle

Being a coastal area, prawns are quite famous in the region. But this dish is a part of the traditional food of Goa and is served as a pickle with the meal. Just fry some vegetables, roasted spices, and prawns in a pan, and it's ready. Usually, people consume it with simple boiled rice. Hence, trying this side dish with your meal is mandatory to add a bomb of flavour to your simple food.

Read More : Beaches Of Goa

7. Feni | Party Hard with Indigenous Drink

Party is the term that defines the culture of North Goa. When it comes to carnivals and celebrations, many people appreciate the presence of alcohol. If you love trying new cocktails, Feni should be on your list. It is not a mocktail but a type of liquor exclusively prepared in Goa. According to history, the Portuguese brought cashews to the country and then extracted their juice. After fermenting it for several days in an earthen pot, it is distilled multiple times. Finally, you get an alcoholic beverage with around 15% alcohol. There is one more variant to this beverage, i.e., coconut Feni.

8. Bebinca | Layered Cake with Portugal Roots

It is a fusion of Indian and Portuguese cultures. Generally, you can find around 7–16 layers in the cake. But according to present demands, you may find different layers. It takes more preparation time than other cakes. It requires flour, ghee, sugar, coconut milk, and eggs. The batter is spread on the grill, and the layers are assembled.

9. Patolea | Sweet Snack for Your Tea Time

It is a sweet delicacy wherein turmeric leaves contain a sweet filling. This filling contains grated coconut, cardamom, red rice, and jaggery. People serve it hot with tea.

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10. Sorpotel | Blend of Spicy and Tangy Flavours

It falls under the category of Goa special food and is a meat curry, which has alcohol along with a type of meat like pork, chicken, beef, etc. The meat is marinated with vinegar. People eat it with sannas, which are rice cakes (like idlis). It is often prepared for celebrations.

11. Goan Khatkhate | Konkani Community’s Popular Vegetable Stew

Usually, people think that Goan cuisine is all about seafood. But there are many vegetarian options like this. It contains many vegetables and lentils, like toor dal, chana dal, potatoes, green beans, reddish drumsticks, etc. Kashmiri chillies and coconut paste are added to the curry to add flavour. This mildly spicy curry is comfort food for Goans and tastes fantastic with rice.

12. King Fish Goan Rava Fry | A Fillet for a Delicious Start to Your Meal

This dish is an important part of the cuisine of Goa. As the name suggests, the fish is coated with rava (semolina) and then shallow fried. It is easy to make and available in almost every Goan restaurant. Semolina makes the outer layer crispy, and the inner part is pretty moist. Hence, you get succulent starters or a side dish. Many people also prepare variations of this dish with different types of fish.

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13. Goan Chicken Xacuti | A Curry with a Burst of Local Spices

A type of chicken curry prepared with various local spices. The chicken pieces get marinated in a green masala containing garlic, coriander, chillies, and ginger. Then it combines with Xacuti masala (a gravy of onion, coconut, and roasted spices). Traditionally, people serve it with pao, but you can pair it with anything you like.

14. Feijoada | Portuguese Stew for a Lazy Day

The dish’s name is derived from Portuguese. But it is quite popular in different regions, including Brazil. Every region reconstructs its version of this dish. The Goan version of feijoada consists of red kidney beans and Goan sausages. All you need is to boil the red kidney beans, prepare a paste with dry spices, and then add both to sauteed vegetables and sausages. Usually, people prepare it one day before consumption to get the best blend of flavours.

15. Goan Samarachi Kodi | A Sour Curry of Prawns

The curry is a well-known dish in North Goa with around 21 spices. Before the catholic wedding, people prepare it for a feast for their relatives and friends. The dish's core ingredients are prawns, tamarind paste, spices, and coconut milk. As the fish supply reduces, people prefer prawn curry over fish curry. It pairs well with red rice and a vegetable side dish.

Read More : Places To Visit In Goa

If you want to explore seafood, then the food of Goa has a lot to offer. With the cool breeze and serenity of the ocean, these dishes will soothe your inner foodie. Want to plan your trip to Goa on a budget? Then contact Adotrip for assistance. Get unbelievable deals on travel, lodging, and other adventure activities in one place. We can become your travel buddy and help you make wise decisions during your next Goa trip.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Food Of Goa

Q1. What are some popular dishes in Goa?
A1. Goa's famous food list includes pork vindaloo, bebinca, sorpotel, etc. Moreover, you can find a variety of seafood to taste.

Q2. What are some traditional snacks or street foods in Goa?
A2. Ras omelette and chorizo are well-known Goa street foods that you should try. You can also spot other street food options like vada pav, cutlets, shawarma, etc.

Q3. What are some traditional drinks in Goa?
A3. Feni is the traditional beverage of Goa, which is exclusively prepared and served in the region.

Q4. What are some traditional sweets of Goa?
A4. When it comes to traditional Goan desserts, you can’t miss dishes like bebinca, dodol, patoleo, and sanna.

Q5. What are some must-try dishes when staying in Goa?
A5. If you are a non-vegetarian, you must try all types of curries prepared with seafood. It includes crab xec xec, fish curry, samarachi kodi, etc. Moreover, you must try all the traditional Goan desserts to explore some unfamiliar flavours.