The Portuguese Connection!

Could you imagine Indian food without tomatoes, potatoes and most importantly, chillies? No? Well, you can thank the Portuguese for that.

The Portuguese established trade colonies in India during the early 16^th century. Portuguese India spread mostly along the west coast of the country and also influenced Eastern India, specifically Bengal. The most noticeable Portuguese influence is in the cuisine of Goa. Goa’s most famous dish, the vindaloo, is a derivative of the Portuguese Carne de Vinha d’Alhos. Carne de Vinha d’Alhos is a pork dish made with the meat marinated in garlic and wine. Vindaloo is a modification with palm vinegar instead of wine and the addition of red chillies and additional spices.

Vindaloo is just one of the many Portuguese influenced dishes. There’s the Goanese Bebinca, dodol and kulkuls, Mangalorean sorpotel, Bengali Bandel cheese and shukto, and many varieties of puffs, pastries and buns found across India.

The Portuguese left their mark in cooking, most notably with the use of cayenne pepper, potatoes, vinegar, beets, bell peppers, carrots, cashews, cassava, pineapple, passion fruit, corn, cocoa,guavas, lima beans, litchis, peanuts, papaya, pumpkin, sweet potato and custard apple, among others.  Nowadays these food items are a mainstay of Indian cuisine, considered a part of Indian culinary heritage with ther actual origins being long forgotten.  The Portuguese also introduced pork to Indian cuisine.

The confluence of the various culinary arts resulted in a cuisine rich in flavors and covering a wide range of preferences in terms of taste and ingredients. This year make it a point to try out the various globally influenced food items of India and go on a culinary discovery that will surprise you at every turn. Happy New Year!