Mangalore Buns

Click here to like! Mangalore buns are a popular dish from Karnataka, however, it is one of those things that the early immigrants from the state brought to Goa and it became a favorite among Goans too. It is not uncommon to visit a local breakfast spot in Goa and see these golden-brown buns inContinue reading “Mangalore Buns”

Shev

Click here to like! Shev is a versatile Indian snack that is great on its own or goes well with chaats. One of my favorite shevs is that from Goa which is slightly different from the ones made in the rest of India. The shev is made with “tarvoli mirsango” or spicy chilies. No functionContinue reading “Shev”

Namak Para

Click here to like! Though shankarpali is more famous, for a few of us who do not like sweet treats as much, namak para is the savory cousin. The best thing about this recipe is that you can customize it with spices and herbs of your choice. I used kalonji and ajwain here, however, youContinue reading “Namak Para”

Shankarpali

Click here to like! Shankarpali or shakkar para, is a sweet fried dough snack. You will rarely find anyone that does not like this sweet treat. I have come to find that there is a similar version of this in Africa as well that uses eggs, similar to the Goan kulkuls. I remember this beingContinue reading “Shankarpali”

Fenoryo

Click here to like! Fenoryo… this wasn’t something I grew up eating during Diwali. However, my mother-in-law made these for most festivals and Mayur asked me if I could make them for him this Diwali. I could not deny him some nostalgia!  My memories of fenoryo are during Datta Jayanti. When we brought the palkiContinue reading “Fenoryo”

Meat Samosa

Click here to like! Samosas are a much loved appetizer all across India. However, what sets the Goan samosa separate, is the meat filling. Meat samosa are popular with Goans, be it after a laadin (prayer at a cross), picnics or just because. My Anil Kaka used to make really good mutton samosas. I rememberContinue reading “Meat Samosa”

Ribbon Cake

Click here to like! If you grew up in Goa, this cake is nostalgic! Every special event had to be graced by its presence. Independence Day celebrations, an annual day at school, sports day, a birthday party, picnics, or a family get-together were not complete without this delicious cake. It would be served on aContinue reading “Ribbon Cake”

Mirsaanga Ros-Goan Chili Curry

Click here to like! When outsiders think of Goan cuisine, they mostly think of fish curry, and rice. However, our cuisine has some hidden treasures which, unfortunately, even some Goans have forgotten about. This chili curry or mirsaanga ros is one such gem! Vegetarian food was cooked on almost half the days of the weekContinue reading “Mirsaanga Ros-Goan Chili Curry”

Bethem/Goan Khichdi

Click here to like! Khichdi is made in some form or the other throughout India. It is hard to pinpoint where it originated from. It is a one-pot meal that was filling and nutritious. Maybe that is why it is so popular all over the Indian subcontinent. So what is the Goan version of khichdi?Continue reading “Bethem/Goan Khichdi”

Cashew Modak

Click here to like! Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations are incomplete without modak. Cashew modaks were mostly store-bought when I was growing up in Goa. Regardless, they were one of my favorites. The lack of their availability here forces me to make them on my own every year. The recipe is simple and with only 3 ingredients.Continue reading “Cashew Modak”

Moogagaathi

Click here to like! No matter what the occasion, most Hindu Goan festivities are incomplete without moogagaathi. It is a staple on the menu for Ganesh Chaturthi, poojas, weddings, or anything else vegetarian. The prep for this dish begins three days in advance. Usually served with pooris, this simply spiced, sprouted moong bean dish isContinue reading “Moogagaathi”

Biya Pos

Click here to like! I have had this recipe on my mind for a very very long time. For a couple of years to be precise. I remember having a conversation with my mom once on which recipes she thinks are not made anymore in the Goan cuisine. I remember her saying, “biya pos”. PosContinue reading “Biya Pos”

Panchkhaje

Click here to like! Ganesh Chaturthi is coming up soon. That means normally preparation would have already begun for making sweets and snacks. This year due to COVID-19, Chaturthi will not be the same. It may mean fewer family members being able to celebrate together. It will not be that grand a celebration with peopleContinue reading “Panchkhaje”

Kangaachi Nevri

Click here to like! My mom was a working woman. Growing up lunch was mostly made by a maid. However, she always made sure she made something amazing for evening snack time. She usually would make some fusion or fun recipes she saw on cooking shows. However, my favorites were the traditional ones. Kangaachi nevriContinue reading “Kangaachi Nevri”

Patoleo

Click here to like! One thing I love about regional cuisine is how it manages to flawlessly incorporate seasonal food into traditions. Shravan, the month which is considered very auspicious among the Hindus has begun. With Shravan come different traditions and of course what follows are all the delicious foods and recipes linked with thoseContinue reading “Patoleo”

Toranche Godh Lonche

Click here to like! Godh lonche was made every year by my granny during the summer. I remember all my aunts were assigned a different task by her. One would peel the raw mangoes, while the other sat on the adoli to cut them.  One would be getting the masalas ready and the other crushingContinue reading “Toranche Godh Lonche”

Shabhutandlacho Chiwdo

Click here to like! Chiwda is a popular Indian fried teatime snack. The chiwdas in Goa differ from most of India in that they are sweeter. Sabhutandlacho Chiwdo is one of my mom’s specialty. I love the crispiness of this chiwda and its sweet salty taste. It was made during Diwali in my house. IContinue reading “Shabhutandlacho Chiwdo”

Upit/Sano

Click here to like! Upma is famous in the south of India. In Goa we call it upit or sano. Our way of preparing upma is slightly different because we add sugar to it. It is more of a sweet and salty taste compared to the savory south Indian version. I have to be honest, thisContinue reading “Upit/Sano”

Kandyachi Bhakri

Click here to like! Were you a kid that despised getting up in the mornings for school but would be up at 5:30 am on weekends? Well, I was! It is not that I hated school, but it just seemed like a chore to get up so early for it! There have been many timesContinue reading “Kandyachi Bhakri”

Bolo De Laranja

Click here to like! Today would have been the 60th birthday of one of Goa’s greatest sons, Wendell Rodricks. He put Goa on a global fashion state and made a place as a Bollywood fashion designer at a young age. His passion for Goa reflected in his work, especially his project on reviving the KunbiContinue reading “Bolo De Laranja”

Goan Fish Fry Masala Paste

Click here to like! Fish is a staple in every Goan household. With the traditional fish curry rice, a side of fried seafood is a must. My mom would prepare the masala every week and refrigerate it so that when she had to fry the fish it was readily available. My job as a kidContinue reading “Goan Fish Fry Masala Paste”

Sheer Khurma Nests

Click here to like! It is Eid and the two main things on the menu are always sheer khurma and biryani. I was lucky to have grown up with some amazing friends whose moms would prepare delicious biryani and sheer khurma to share with our family. I looked forward to Eid for this same reason.Continue reading “Sheer Khurma Nests”

Goan Style Prawns Baskets

Click here to like! Prawns or Shrimp are my all time favorite seafood. I like it in any form. We have a farmer’s market here that gets prawns just during the summer time. So I like to stock up on them, make balchao (prawns pickle), curries, fry them… Oh! The best 4 months of theContinue reading “Goan Style Prawns Baskets”

Kann

Click here to like! Kann is a Goan dessert made especially for Mahashivaratri. It is eaten while fasting during most Hindu festivals. Traditionally, the whole moong was roasted and then crushed on a daatem (stone) to separate the shells. I remember my grandmother making this the traditional way. I would love to help her turnContinue reading “Kann”

Kasai

Click here to like! Kasai is a health drink that is staple in every Goan household. It is believed to fight off the cold.  Every household has its own recipe of making Kasai. However, the base ingredients like herbs and spices remain the same. Based on the ayurvedic knowledge of spices, this drink is anContinue reading “Kasai”

Pithi

Click here to like! Pithi is a simple dish made with horsegram during monsoons in Goa. It is supposed to have many health benefits. However, this dish is getting extinct with time. I have to be honest! I was never a big fan of pithi. Having it seemed like a punishment in my childhood! However,Continue reading “Pithi”

Vainghyaache Bharth

Click here to like! Baigan ka bharta is famous all over India. It is basically egg plant roasted over an open flame. The egg plant is then peeled, mushed and spiced to create a perfect accompaniment to roti. A little known variety of bharta is the Goan way of making it. We keep it simpleContinue reading “Vainghyaache Bharth”

Kismur

Click here to like! A Goan cannot live without fish. When we meet each other after we say hello the next question we ask is, “Aaj nustya kide?” which translates to “What fish did you get today?” So once the monsoons hit and the fishing boats are banned from going into the ocean, the GoanContinue reading “Kismur”

Pos

Click here to like! Colostrum known as “kit” in Konkani, is the first milk that comes from cattle once the calf is born. It is supposed to be very healthy and nutritious. Growing up my grandparents used to rear cattle. It was not uncommon to have “pos,” a kind of pudding made with colostrum milk,Continue reading “Pos”

Almyaache Tondak

Click here to like! Monsoon in Goa brings with it seasonal wild berries, mangoes, cashews, seasonal vegetables, etc. However, the one produce that the locals wait eagerly for (after mangoes, of course!) are the local mushrooms. These mushrooms have a unique texture and grow in the wild. They are a rare find and tend toContinue reading “Almyaache Tondak”

Bhajji/Pakoda/Pakora

Click here to like! Every part of India has a cuisine unique to the region. However, regardless of which part of India you come from, there are a few dishes whose variants exist across the board. One such dish is fried fritters. The North Indians call it pakoras/pakodas while the South Indians call it bhajji.Continue reading “Bhajji/Pakoda/Pakora”

Kadi

Click here to like! Every time I take a sip of this amazing kokum drink, I am transported back to my maternal grandma’s dining table. My mom is the oldest of 9 siblings. So you can imagine my grandma’s house filled with 15 grandkids during the summer holidays. As we sat for a meal inContinue reading “Kadi”

Ukkadille Gavaanche Modak

Click here to like! It is modak season again! The time of the year where Ganapathi Bappa comes home and in the bargain we get to eat a lot of delicious food! The most amazing thing about celebrating Chaturthi in Goa is that various seasonal vegetables are cooked at home to offer as prasad forContinue reading “Ukkadille Gavaanche Modak”

Stuffed Mango Pickle

Click here to like! Summertime brings with it seasonal fruits. Of course, the king of them all is the mango! Like most of India, Goans also like to store this seasonal fruit for the rest of the year in many forms. The most popular of them all is the stuffed mango pickle. It is called bharille lonche orContinue reading “Stuffed Mango Pickle”

Saffron Baathk

Click here to like! Come Christmas, I would eagerly wait for the “kuswar” from friends and neighbors. “Kuswar” is a plate of food that has all the traditional desserts made during Christmas by the Goan Catholics. Everyone has their favorite kuswar item. But mine was the fruitcake and the baathk. Baathk is a semolina coconut cake. IContinue reading “Saffron Baathk”

Mango Caramel Pudding

Click here to like! Caramel pudding is a favorite in every Goan household. It is a staple at weddings and parties. My aunt, who I lovingly call Aai, makes the best pudding in my opinion. I spent most of my summer vacations with her. I remember sitting by the kitchen counter as she hand beat the eggs. TheContinue reading “Mango Caramel Pudding”

Ukkodilli Bhikna

Click here to like! I believe much of my love for fresh food and new ingredients comes from my mother. She is always on the lookout for different kinds of fruits and vegetables when she shops and travels.  She instilled in me a curiosity for new ingredients and cooking them in the simplest of ways. TodayContinue reading “Ukkodilli Bhikna”

Dalicho Ros

Click here to like! Goan monsoons bring multiple seasonal fruits with them. Jackfruit is one such fruit. Everyone enjoys diving into its gooey sweet goodness. But Goans have figured out ways to use the seeds as well. Most people like to boil them and eat them as a snack with their afternoon tea, while others addContinue reading “Dalicho Ros”

Prawns Balchao

Click here to like! When I think of prawns balchao, I am reminded of my hostel days. I studied in Belgaum. Despite the lovely weather and fresh vegetables that Belgaum had to offer, one thing that it did not was fresh fish. So prawns balchao was a savior every time I missed home cooked food,Continue reading “Prawns Balchao”

Chicken Xacuti

Click here to like! Chicken Xacuti is every Goan’s go to soul food. Chicken Xacuti takes me back to my living room couch where my brother and I would watch Tom and Jerry, Charlie Chaplin and Mowgli on a Sunday morning. No fighting for the remote back then because there was only one channel, theContinue reading “Chicken Xacuti”

Ukkadilli Tandlam Godh Bhakri

Click here to like! Today is Makarsankranthi. It is supposed to be the coldest night of the year and marks the end of winter. A lot of customs surrounding this festival reflect that. Black is not considered a very auspicious color, however, on this day ladies wear black sarees in some parts of India. BeingContinue reading “Ukkadilli Tandlam Godh Bhakri”

Kulitha Caldo

Click here to like! Happy New Year, everyone! I hate to start my first post this year with this recipe! But a part of me is happy too. Let me explain. New year, unfortunately, bring the flu season with it! My husband is feeling a little under the weather. So here I was, on theContinue reading “Kulitha Caldo”

Serradura

Click here to like! A lot of Goan recipes have a Portuguese influence. Here is one such recipe. Serradura translates to saw dust. This super easy, yet super delicious, dessert is made with layers of flavored whipped cream and powdered Marie biscuits. The crushed biscuits resemble saw dust and hence the name. With the holidaysContinue reading “Serradura”

Chakri

Click here to like! Chakri is a famous Indian snack! The chakri in Goa is a little different from the rest of India. While the rest of India enjoys savory chakris, we Goans like our chakri a little on the sweeter side. We also add our beloved coconut and jaggery which enhances the taste ofContinue reading “Chakri”

Tikshe Fov

Click here to like! Diwali in Goa is all about different varieties of beaten rice. During Diwali, the markets are flooded with different kinds of beaten rice from red beaten rice to puffed beaten rice (fulayille fov). No Diwali faral is complete without tiskshe fov! This spicy, sweet, crispy treat is loved by adults andContinue reading “Tikshe Fov”

Mushroom Stuffed Mutlyo

Click here to like! This is another recipe that was invented for the mystery box challenge at Traditional Goan Foodies! I managed to use all 5 mystery ingredients in this recipe – green chilies, plantains, star anise, mushrooms and kokum. Mutlyo is a Goan snack which is made with parboiled rice covering and usually aContinue reading “Mushroom Stuffed Mutlyo”

Kelyache Fov

Click here to like! This recipe was invented for a mystery box challenge in one of my favorite facebook groups, Traditional Goan Foodies! I managed to use 4 out of the 5 mystery ingredients in this recipe – green chilies, plantains, star anise and tamarind. I absolutely love plantains and they are so much healthierContinue reading “Kelyache Fov”

Churmo

Click here to like! Churmo! Ah! The name itself makes my mouth water! Be it Diwali or Ganesh Chaturthi, one thing I always asked Mummy to make was churmo. I have tried churmo made with cornflakes, the ones sold in stores, the ones made by my relatives and then there are the quick versions. However,Continue reading “Churmo”

Goan Style Appe

Click here to like! Appe are a Maharastrian dish. These are usually made with a batter made from rice and urad dal, mixed with vegetables of your choice and a tempering of cumin and curry leaves. In Goa, the rice bhakari is a popular breakfast item. I once had some left over rice bhakari flourContinue reading “Goan Style Appe”

Godh/Sakhricho Chiwdo

Click here to like! A Goan Diwali is not complete without “fov” or beaten rice. The uniqueness of  a Goan Diwali lies in the different kinds of preparations made from “fov”.  Besides making fresh beaten rice recipes, Goans also make dry recipes ahead of time to serve to their guests during Diwali. One such recipeContinue reading “Godh/Sakhricho Chiwdo”