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Allow us to take you on a culinary trip that combines Goan cuisine with Portuguese influences! We have curated a list of the top 5 Indo-Portuguese delicacies that you shouldn’t miss on your next Goa trip!
Bebinca
Bibinca/Bibek, also known as the queen of Goan desserts, is a traditional Indo-Portuguese delicacy that’s quite popular and served at Goan celebrations, be it Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter, or christenings. This layered pudding is made from coconut milk, eggs, butter, and flour.
Bebinca can have anything between seven and sixteen layers depending on what you want. It takes time and patience to make this sweet treat, but the result is well worth it, and you won’t be able to resist! Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Chicken Cafreal
The USP of this famous dish lies in the flavourful green spice masala. This Goan curry consists of tender chicken marinated with a puree of coriander, cumin, cardamom, chilies, pepper, cinnamon, garlic ( also known as cafreal masala), and cooked with a hint of tamarind.
It is suggested to marinate the chicken at night and prepare the dish the next morning. Tangy and spicy, this mouth-watering dish is a must-try for all the meat-lovers out there!
Serradura
Serradura/Saw-Dust pudding or Macau pudding is a melt-in-the-mouth Portuguese dessert that’s very popular in Goa. A unique dessert that’s egg-free, it requires no baking, no cooking, and combines cream and cookies.
In brief, whipped cream, condensed milk, biscuits, and vanilla extract are the main ingredients.
Vindalho/Vindaloo
A strong spicy flavoured paste, that’s, acidic, vinegar-like, and hot, the Goan vindaloo paste is a traditional curry paste. Introduced by the Portuguese, vindaloo refers to meat marinated with wine vinegar and garlic (called Carne de vinha d’alhos).
The authentic version of Vindaloo consists of dry roasted spices ground to a paste with ginger, vinegar, tomato puree, tamarind pulp, and super spicy red chillis. In conclusion, chicken can also be substituted with meat, pork, lamb, or any vegetables of your choice.
Kulkuls
One of the famous Indo-Portugues delicacies, “kidyo”, kulkuls or Indian Sweet Curls are sugary treats that form an important part of Indo-Portuguese cuisine. Moreover, according to some historians, these crunchy snacks are an upgraded snack form of Portuguese Filhos Enroladas (rolled donuts).
Shaped like shells or curls, these are a major part of Christmas celebrations across Goa.