Danny FernandesIf you ask any Goan what his favorite and most loved dish is, the answer will undeniably be the simple, humble fish curry thali. There is no denying the fact that being an international tourist destination, Goa is swarmed by tourists all year round to visit its famed beaches, picture-perfect vistas, and stunning architecture. Any tourist landing in Goa will vouch first on sightseeing, meeting, exploring, and then heading straight to savor its world-famous cuisines. It is also everyone’s straight guess and plain simple logic on what will be the million-dollar choice of the tourist when he first visits any coastal or mainland restaurant in Goa. Yes, you have heard it a zillion times and let us repeat that for you – Fish curry dishes such as fish balchao, fish curry rice, and many other seafood thali variations are the default & authentic choice of tourists to start with.
Goans And Their Love For Fish
There is a very famous saying in Goa about the endearing love of Goans for their favorite seafood – FISH. It states that an unconscious Goan can be revived by placing a dried fish to his nose. This is a jokingly casual analogy on the association of Goans with seafood from time immemorial.
No day in the life of a Goan is complete without tasting at least a portion of some fish variety, whether it is mackerel, pomfret, kingfish, silverfish, ladyfish, or other inland fish varieties abundant in Goa’s coast. It is an unmissable and undeniable fact of life in Goa to taste and relish all varieties of seafood year-round. Being a coastal state it is obvious to have an affinity for seafood similar to the Bengali’s love for their Hilsa. Maharashtra too is a seafood-loving state where the coast churns hundreds of fish varieties similar to the Goan coast. Both have their fair share of fans with the trawlers owners registering their first sale for the catch at the shores itself. There are people secretly snuggling their way to the coast and inland locations to get their fresh share of the day right at daybreak. Such is the love for the humble fish curry and allied dishes that the people of Goa will go out of their way to lay their hands on the shining, sparkling, and fat catch before the others. There is a constant jostle at the fish markets to haggle and bargain and bring home the trump prized fish portion, locally called ‘vantto’.
Goa is just not about fish curry in its entirety, there are hundreds of iconic dishes that you can artistically and expertly create with just one ingredient – FISH.
Going further, we will take you on a gastronomic journey of the Goan fish and its variations to make every day of the week a culinary extravaganza.
Goan Fish Dishes You Must Try
Fish Mole / Fish Pickle: A sweet, tangy, zesty, and fiery alternative to a traditional fish curry loaded with spices, salt, and seeds, fish mole is a perfect side dish to the thali. Infused with high spiciness and tickliness, this dish transports you to a different level of culinary chutzpah. Nowadays, you get packed fish mole to purchase at the supermarkets or are served at selected seafood restaurants. But both ways, you can also try this dish at home with basic ingredients like dried fish and masalas.
Bangda Recheado / Mackerel Recheado: A recheado is a stuffing inside the mackerel locally called bangado or bangda. Recheado uplifts the seafood to a totally different level by imparting a feisty and mouth-watering taste and aroma due to the flavourful masala stuffing loaded inside. A perfect accompaniment to the local Goan beverages, recheado bangda is a must-try when visiting a restaurant and tavern (local bar in Goa)
Prawn Balchao: A favorite dish to be eaten with beverages in Goa, prawn balchao is a unique dish that is an amalgamation of spice and tanginess in equal measure. Prawn balchao derives its tanginess from tamarind paste and local chillies. A dish of Portuguese origin, its uniqueness lies in the addition of a special paste made of tamarind, tomatoes & vinegar.
Crab Xec Xec: Another seafood wonder originating from the Goan kitchens, crab xec xec is a flavourful, fragrant & scrumptious crab curry made using roasted spices and juicy coconut milk to form a tasty curry paste. The roasting of spices is what uplifts the flavor of this dish.
Mussel Rawa Fry: A mouth-watering dish made using fresh mussels dipped in masalas and dunked in rawa, mussel rawa fry is tasty, delectable, and flavourful. A side dish for having along with local beverages, here too the secret lies in its preparation. The right amount of masalas and rawa can make or break this dish. Mostly served along with chilled beverages, this dish is prominent at beachside shacks where mussels are readily available and in abundance.
Dry Prawns Kismoor: A tasty side dish served in traditional Goan fish thalis along with other fish as partners, dry prawns locally called kismoor are a must-try when ordering a Goan thali. It is usually served in small portions and reserves a special place in the Goan thali. Mixing the kismoor with rice and having it subtly lifts the flavor profile of the thali with its succinct taste. We can prefer to call Kismoor a star performer in a thali.
Tesryache Sukhe: A shellfish delicacy distinct from other fish-based dishes, tesryache sukhe is a subtly sweet and minimal spicy dish served with rice plate. It is made using coconut paste, shredded coconut or coconut milk with a tart of kokum water. Onion imparts crunchiness and spices add to the taste of the overall dish. Other varieties like tesryache dangar and hooman can also be made using shellfish.
Before winding let us quote a bare truth “As fish is to the water, so is a Goan’s love to the fish”.
This brings us to the end of the most loved seafood dishes of Goa, hope you liked the article!
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Concluding Points:
SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
The coast of Goa beckons one and all to grab a share of its produce and take home the prized fish portions to satisfy the day’s fish cravings.
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