THE SEA FOOD OF GOA - KRISHNA THAKUR

- August 19, 2022

the sea food of goa

~hello dear reader !

Welcome to my second blog. In this blog I will be talking about the sea food of Goa.

What kind of seafood can you expect in Goa?

King fish, red and black snapper, squid, tuna, oysters, shellfish, crab, lobster, sea bass, tiger prawns, black and white pomfret and mackerel are just some of the fish and seafood that you can enjoy when in Goa, so it’s not only a great destination for keen pescatarians, but also for anyone looking to broaden their culinary horizons and try something new.

Must try sea food delicacies of Goa are:

1. Goan Fish Curry

The dish that Goa is most famous for is the Goan Fish Curry. It's a coconut based dish flavoured with red chillies and fresh fish or prawns usually served with fluffy rice.

2. Prawns Orly

Orly battered Prawns with coriander.

3. Caldine

Goan Caldine or Caldinho is a mild and delicious, yellow seafood curry made with few spices and coconut milk extract.

4. Fish Recheado

Recheado refers to a spicy paste made from chillies, vinegar, select spices, ginger and garlic. This paste is stuffed into Mackerel or Pomfret, after which the fish is fried till it attains that heavenly crisp, brown texture. Restaurants offer a marinated shallow-fried and a semolina-fried version of Fish Recheado. It is recommended to try them both, to know what suits your taste buds. Restaurants in Goa serve the Fish Recheado with fish curry and rice.

5. Shark Ambot Tik

Don’t be surprised; Shark is an acclaimed delicacy in Goa. The Shark Ambot Tik is a household favourite and graces the menu of every seafood restaurant worth it’s salt. Ambot Tik means sour and spicy, curry that is the perfect blend of both tastes. The dish is named as such, owing to the use of red chillies and kokum that imparts the taste to it. The spicy red-coloured curry is made with shark meat, as the flesh is chunky and the body has a single bone. It is usually served with a Pav or steamed rice.

6. Crab Xacuti

The Xacuti is a curry made with local spices that is a staple in buffet lunches in Goa. This spicy curry is made with freshly ground spices and a fresh catch of crabs. Initially, the claws are removed, followed by the boiling of the crab, after which it is mixed into the curry. The juices of the crab infuse into the curry, adding a new dimension of flavour into it. Some versions feature eggs that are added to make the curry thicker and fluffier.

7. Mussels rawa fry

Mussels rawa fry is a popular dish among Goans. Soft mussels are coated in rawa and deep-fried to perfection. They can be had with rice and also as an appetizer. This dish can be served with ketchup and green chutney on the side. It is also offered as an accompaniment to a chilled beer in restaurants in Goa.

8. Prawns Balchao

Prawns Balchao is a spicy and tangy dish that was introduced to Goa by the Portuguese. The preparation involves the mixing of juicy prawn pieces in a masala made from oil, ginger, garlic, tomato, onions, red chillies, mustard and cumin seeds, vinegar and salt. It is used as a pickle and can be bottled and stored up for months. Some restaurants also make a less spicy version of it, which can be served as a side dish, accompanied by rice. A plate of steaming hot rice with Prawns Balchao makes for a lunch worth remembering!