The 17 Most Delicious Goan Seafood Dishes You Must Taste

Goa is a seafood lover’s paradise. With its long coastline and fishing heritage, Goan cuisine is filled with an incredible variety of delicious seafood dishes. From curries to fries, Goan chefs know how to make the most of the fresh catch of the day. Here are 17 of the most delicious Goan seafood dishes you need to taste:

1. Goan Fish Curry (Xitt Kodi)

The staple dish of Goa, made with fish (usually pomfret or kingfish), coconut milk, raw mango, and spices. Served with rice.

2. Prawns Balchao

A spicy, tangy prawn dish brought to Goa by the Portuguese. Prawns are pickled in a tomato-vinegar-based sauce. Can be stored for months and used as a pickle.

3. Fish Recheado

Mackerel or pomfret stuffed with spicy Goan recheado masala (made with red chillies, garlic, cumin, peppercorns, and tamarind). Fish is coated with semolina and pan-fried until crisp.

4. Crab Xacuti

A flavourful curry made with crab meat, coconut, white poppy seeds, dried red chillies, pepper, turmeric, onion, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. Can be mildly or very spicy depending on preparation.

5. Mussels (Xhinanio) Rawa Fry

A popular snack and appetizer, made with mussels deep or pan-fried in a light semolina batter. Crisp and crunchy outside, tender inside. Often served with green chutney or tomato ketchup.

6. Squids (Calamari) Masala Fry

Soft, round squids stir-fried and cooked with spicy red Goan recheado masala.

7. Prawn & Ladyfinger Caldinha

A mildly-spiced yellow coconut curry containing prawns and ladyfingers.

8. Shark Ambot Tik

A red sour and spicy curry, flavored largely by red chillies and kokum.

9. Goan Prawn Curry (Sungtache Hooman)

A simple and easy prawn curry recipe from Goan Saraswat cuisine. Prawns cooked in a mildly spiced onion-based curry without garlic. The flavor of burnt onions makes the curry delicious. Served with Goan rice.

10. Goan Mackerel Curry (Bangdyache Hooman)

A mildly spiced mackerel curry. Onions are added to the curry. Tastes heavenly when served with steamed rice.

11. Goan Crab Curry (Kullyache Tonak)

An authentic crab curry recipe from Saraswat cuisine. A simple ingredient list, no garlic is added as it overpowers the crab flavor. Cloves are used for flavor instead. Served with undé (steamed rice cakes) or pav (bread).

12. Goan Anchovies Curry (Vellyache Hooman)

A mildly spiced curry made with anchovies (velly). Coriander seeds and onions are added to make the curry. Served with steamed rice.

13. Goan Dry Fish Curry

Goan curry made with dried fish during the summer when fishing is banned. Different types of dried fish like mackerel, prawns are used. Dried fish is stocked up during summer and used in curries in the monsoon. Served with rice.

14. Lepo Fry (Sole Fish Fry)

A famous Goan seafood appetizer. Sole fish is marinated in spices like Kashmiri chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric, ginger-garlic paste, tamarind pulp, vinegar, and salt. The fish is then coated with semolina and deep fried until crisp. The delicate flavor of the fish is enhanced by the spices.

15. Bombil Fry (Bombay Duck Fry)

Bombay duck, also known as bombil, is a type of fish found in the waters off the Konkan coast. It is cleaned, marinated in spices, dipped in semolina and deep fried until crisp. The fried fish has a unique aroma and flavor.

16. Tisryo Sukke (Clams Dry Curry)

A dry curry made with small clams called tisryo in Konkani. The clams are cooked with onions, tomatoes, chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric, and coconut. Has a slightly sweet and sour taste.

17. Khube Sukke (Cockles Dry Curry)

A dry curry made with cockles called khube in Konkani. Cockles are small edible marine bivalve mollusks. Cooked with onions, tomatoes, spices and coconut, similar to tisryo sukke. Has a briny, slightly sweet flavor.

Goan cuisine has a wide variety of seafood dishes beyond the popular fish curries. These dishes showcase the diversity and deliciousness of Goan seafood. From prawns to mackerel to crab and anchovies, there is something for every seafood lover to enjoy. So the next time you visit Goa, make sure to try these delicious seafood dishes!