Goa is one of the favourite travel destinations in India for every traveller as it holds several beaches, colonial architecture, thrilling nightlife, picturesque beauty, tropical climate, & lots more. It is an ideal weekend vacation to escape from your mundane life, & get a sigh of relief from all the stress while enjoying its pristine beaches. But what adds more excitement is savouring the top culinary delights in Goa.
This coastal state of India has many top options for mouth-watering dishes to tantalise the taste buds of its visitors. Whether you are a vegan or a non-vegetarian, the restaurants here have all on their menu to experience varied tastes. If you are excited to visit the top places in Goa for a memorable trip, make it more worthwhile by tasting the best foods for your breakfast, lunch, or dinner until you stay on this beach island. So let’s begin our listing of
Top must-try culinary delights in Goa
Check the list below of top delectable food items in Goa that you should try.
- Poee
Poee is a simple & sweet dish which is prepared with ingredients including whole wheat flour, wheat bran, & maida. The one primary reason this bread-like stuff is among the top culinary delights in Goa is because it is sold during morning hours. You can easily find this bread in almost every Goan store, & have a healthy breakfast.
- Goan fish curry
When planning for the Goa itinerary, make sure you dine out at a restaurant to savour the taste of its mouth-watering staple food, Goan fish curry. It is an ideal non-veg treat for all those who love feasting on fish meat. This dish is made very spicy & tangy to make the consumers immerse in its heavenly taste. It is prepared with tamarind paste, Kashmiri chilli powder, coconut milk, cooking oil, onions, garlic, coriander seeds, tomatoes, & fresh meat chops of pomfret or kingfish.
- Chicken Cafreal
Enjoying a vacation in Goa without tasting its mouth-watering dish, chicken cafreal is not accepted. When coming to this coastal Indian state, no chicken lovers can live without feasting on this non-vegetarian meal. It is perfectly prepared with grinding of green chillies, herbs, & a blend of multiple spices to form a masala to add a taste to chicken. After that, this formed masala is mixed with the chicken & is put for fry.
- Shark Ambot Tik
Ambot tik is a famous Goan food which is influenced by Portuguese culture. Where Ambot means sour or tangy, tik stands for spicy or hot. When added to shark fish meat, it becomes Shark Ambot Tik curry. Among many fishes, the shark is mainly chosen for this curry. It is made with Kashmiri chillies, cumin seeds, peppercorns, coriander seeds, sugar, vinegar, garlic cloves, tomato, onion, & water.
- Goan Nevri
If you visit Goa during the festive season, you may be savouring Goan Nevri, popular sweet balls made from flour. They are served especially during Diwali or Ganesh Chaturthi. You can relate this sweet with Karonji, as both appear similarly. Goan Nevi is appealing both in terms of taste & health. This sweet is prepared with whole wheat flour, & is stuffed with jaggery, dry fruits, & grated coconut.
- Prawn Balchao
Prawn Balchao is also a well-known food item that was introduced by Catholic Portuguese at the time when Goa was colonised. With prawn as the main ingredient, Balchao is prepared with mixed spices, cumin, & dried red chillies. The addition of vinegar adds a tint of sourness to it. You can have it with either rice or chosen bread.
- Sanna
Those who like eating those spongy, steamed rice cakes, known as idlis, at nearby South Indian restaurants with sambar & coconut chutney will definitely love the taste of Sanna when served with chicken sukka, pork vindaloo, sorpotel, & curries will bring a similar experience for you in Goa. This local yet popular food of the latter coastal town is prepared with cane sugar & raw palm. You can also try out the sweeter version.
- Crab Xacuti
Crab Xacuti is another popular seafood to taste in Goa. The preparation of this non-veg dish & Chicken Xacuti is similar. What needs to be done here is to remove the claws of this aquatic species very carefully. After that, you have to boil it for 15 minutes. To make it more thick & fluffy, you can add eggs.
- Bebinca
Rejoice your mood in Goa by tasting the most popular & loved dessert, Bebinca. It appears as a multilayered pudding cake made with maida, egg yolks, coconut milk, flour, ghee & sugar. To add rich flavour to this sweet dessert, the makers add caramelised sugar. It is fondly known as the ‘ Queen of Goan Desserts’.
- Sorak
If you wish to visit Goa during the monsoon, you better taste Sorak, a vegetarian curry made especially during this season. The ingredients used in the preparation of this curry include turmeric powder, garlic cloves, cumin seeds, small onion, coconut oil, coriander seeds, green chillies, Kashmiri red chillies, cup grated coconut, small onion, kokum, & salt (per needed).
- Sorpotel
The list ends with a famous non-vegetarian dish of Goa, Sorpotel. It involves mutton liver, pork, & beef. Besides exploring the best things to do in Goa, this spicy & tangy food item is a must-treat to enjoy with your loved ones during Christmas & New Year. The ingredients used to prepare this Goan delicacy include pork meat, pork liver, pork heart, cinnamon stick, garlic flakes, Kashmiri chilli powder, ginger, cloves, cumin seeds, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, turmeric powder, green chilli, & tamarind, vinegar, & refined oil.
Savour top culinary delights with your stay at the best hotels in Goa
To savour all such delicious Goan delicacy options, we bring you the 2 best stay options from where you can feast on these famous foods, & enjoy other activities in this coastal state of India.
- jüSTa Morjim Beach Resort, Goa
jüSTa Morjim Beach Resort is a luxury beach resort in Goa that ensures a comfy staycation for its guests. Its 18 well-decorated room options with all modern amenities make this resort ideal for couples, family vacationers, or solo travellers. It is a perfect getaway for both leisure & corporate travellers. They can enjoy taking a dip in its outdoor swimming pool for some refreshing fun.
To satiate your hunger for the above-listed Goan delicacies, the resort has a Wireroom, the best beachside bar and restaurant at Morjim Beach. This top-notch eatery in Goa lets you enjoy the diverse tastes of a wide range of indelible international, Pan-Indian, and Goan dishes & beverages to enjoy your moment with loved ones.
- jüSTa Casa Frangipani, Assagao
Another best alternative for your staycation in Goa is jüSTa Casa Frangipani, Assagao. This boutique resort in Goa will leave no stone unturned in making its guests satisfied with all luxury & comfort with its exceptional hospitality services. With its 14 indulgent room options, you can experience all sorts of modern amenities that you expect. The best part about this hotel in Goa is its proximity to beaches, including Anjuna Beach, Baga Beach, Calangute Beach, & Candolim Beach. Hence, you can have a great time relaxing at beaches from this hotel.
Coming to the dining part, you can begin your day savouring the famous Goan delicacies & typical Indian cuisines at its restaurant by the poolside. Among many of the best restaurants in Goa, you can taste a variety of local cuisines & so much to indulge in. Having no dearth of dining options, this hotel is a must-stay option.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have mentioned all the top culinary delights in Goa so you can have a wonderful dining experience at its best eatery joints. This coastal state of India has never failed to attract tourists with its abundance of scenic beauty, beaches, nightlife, & of course, local delicacies. So enjoy having a memorable travel journey at this evergreen travel destination of India.