A Very

Goan Christmas

- Traditional Dishes To Fill Your Holiday Table

Quick Summary

At Christmas, Goans plan to spend at least two days preparing traditional Goan foods to share with friends, family and neighbours. While many families may only make these dishes once a year, the festive spirit remains a constant throughout each Goan household.

Deep Dive

Many of the recipes we celebrate as part of our Goan Christmas celebrations have their roots in the Portuguese-influenced foods of decorated buildings, such as a church altar. Most of these recipes were originally prepared as gifts to the leaders of a newly Christianised Goa. Today, however, they continue to be prepared for family and friends in celebration of the Christmas season and throughout the year. Many of these traditional foods are now thought of as 'comfort foods', found on menus at local restaurants, served at family gatherings or eaten at home.

The Christmas Mood in Goa

The experience of celebrating Christmas in Goa is unique as it combines the atmosphere of traditional Portuguese homes with music, the smell of warm bread being baked in bakeries, and a combination of ghee, coconut milk, and caramel. Family members usually start preparing for Christmas many days in advance in anticipation of the busy time of year, and the traditional way of cooking food during this time is to prepare it together with the assistance of family members, friends and neighbours.

Bebinca – The Queen of Goan Sweets

The traditional dessert for Christmas time in Goa is Bebinca, which is a layered dessert that is made by cooking each layer separately in a slow process. The cooking method used to create Bebinca is what produces the caramelisation on the surface and the silky texture of the dessert. The dessert is cut into slices and served during the Christmas meal, typically at room temperature or slightly warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to give it an additional festive taste.

Dodol – The Coconut-Caramel Comfort Sweet

While Bebinca represents Goan elegance, Dodol provides warmth and comfort during the holiday season. This simple sweet treat is created by simmering together coconut milk, jaggery and rice flour for hours until it becomes a soft, dense, chewy block of sweetness. Every Goan family will have their own Dodol "expert," usually an older relative who has perfected the technique to determine precisely when the mixture has reached the perfect consistency. The flavour profile is basic, consisting entirely of coconut and jaggery, yet somehow it embodies the essence of every Goan child's experience growing up.

Neureos, Baath Cake & More on the Sweet Spread

The Goan Christmas sweet plate is not comprised of one item but rather many different items. Along with Dodol, other items included on the sweet plate are Neureos (small crescent-shaped pastries filled with coconut and sugar), marzipan fruits handmade by artists, and the Baath cake made from coconut. Of all the items on the sweet plate, the Baath cake stands apart with its unique grainy texture, thanks to its finely ground semolina and its slow-baked crumb. Each family in Goa has their unique way of making Baath cake, resulting in either denser or fluffier cakes, but all boast a strong flavour of coconut.

Sorpotel – The Christmas Showstopper Curry

Sorpotel is the first thing you’ll look for when eating a savoury Christmas Goan Feast. A soured pork curry that has spices, vinegar, salt, and Kashmiri chillies, it has a sharp, spicy flavour and is rich in aroma. The best part of Sorpotel is the time allowed to rest before serving. Days two or three after cooking, Sorpotel is at its best, as it has a developed flavour. Typically, Sorpotel is served with Sannas – steamed rice-coconut cakes that are fun and fluffy. These two items are staples at many Goan festive meals.

Xacuti, Roast Pork & Other Festive Classics

Aside from Sorpotel, you will also normally have a pot of Xacuti cooking away. Xacuti is a complex base gravy that uses roasted coconut and spices as thickening agents. Many Goan families who prefer traditional Customs use honey-chilli glazes or traditional Goan spices for Christmas roasts to keep things interesting. Seafood will also be available to anyone in Goa, including prawn curry and recheado-stuffed mackerel, as seafood is never off the table in Goa.

Why the Goan Table Feels So Special

Because of its variety of curries, sweets on trays, and stacks of bread, the Goan Christmas table looks abundant (never understated) and is also filled with love and warmth. The combination of Portuguese cuisine and Goan ingredients creates a warm and familiar meal that is both extensive and comforting, so families will take their time sitting around the table, enjoying each other's company, laughing, sampling various dishes, and returning for "just one more piece."