Goa is a charming state known for its stunning beaches, spicy curries, and a unique blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures. However, many are unaware of its rich bread culture found in its villages. Stroll through any Goan village in the morning, and you’ll catch the aroma of freshly baked pão wafting from bakeries. You may also hear the bells of the baker’s bicycle as he sells fresh bread each morning. The bread culture in Goa has thrived for centuries due to Portuguese colonization. It has woven itself into the daily lives of the people. Even as time progresses, new culinary trends and fads continue to emerge.
1. Katre Pav: The Butterfly Bread
The Konkani word for scissors is katore. The name “Katre pav,” or “butterfly bread,” comes from the dough that bakers cut and shape into a butterfly or bow-like figure with four rounded corners. It is also popularly known as “bread with ears.” Ideally consumed fresh, this bread delivers on looks and satisfies hunger at any time. It promises chewiness, a delightful aroma, and delicious taste. Once you take a bite into the crisp yet soft bread, you understand why it is a staple in every Goan household, especially for breakfast.
2. Kakon: The Bangle Bread
In Konkani, the translation of ‘kankonn’ is bangle, which is an appropriate description of this crunchy dry bread’s circular shape. The name derives from the tinkle sound each bangle makes when freshly baked. Kakon offers better feasibility and shelf life than most Goan breads. By allowing it to remain fresh for a week or longer. The bread’s denseness, crispness holding dipping authority for a rich curry or the delightful taste of the bread.
3. Poie: The Traditional Goan Flatbread
Bakers ferment poie with toddy for two days before flattening and baking it directly on the floor of a wood-fired oven, making it one of Goa’s top traditional breads. With its distinctive texture and flavor, poie stands apart from its cousin, pao, as it bakes quickly using a rustic method. Bakers always produce poie as the first bread of the day, requiring more heat to develop its wonderful golden color and earthy flavor, making it a delightful addition to any meal.
4. Pao: The Resplendent Bread of Goa
Pao, derived from the Portuguese word for bread. Represents a quintessential form of Goan bread and plays an integral role in Goan life. Each village in Goa hosts its own small bakery. where bakers bake fresh pao daily using methods that have remained consistent over the years. While the mechanical kneading process has altered the shaping of the bread, the pao remains unchanged in its essence. With a soft and fluffy consistency, Goan bread soaks up Goan curries, enhanced by the bland yet tasty flavor of the pao that accompanies the dish.
5. Undo: The Round, Spongy Bread
Undo, also referred to as Pokshe or Pokshie. This is yet another bread staple from the Goan region that has a unique round shape and a dense crust shielding an airy, spongy interior. Each artisan Goan baker or poders will bake the bread directly onto the oven floor. And provides a certain user-friendliness during hearty meals when their bread interacts with steaming hot gravies. The bread is tough on the exterior so it can remain intact. And hence able to dip into those rich gravies with abandon (you never have bread waste this way).
6. Banana Jeera Bun: The Soft, Spongy, Sweet and Savory Bun
Banana Jeera buns are definitive creations that offer a unique flavor experience. These buns combine sweetness and savoriness, featuring a soft and fluffy texture. Which is enhanced by the rustic taste of jeera (cumin) and the sweetness of banana, complemented by their shimmering yellow color. These buns or also known as Mangalore Buns. As they provide an opening to the subconscious – as you bite down these buns, the soft stinginess and sweetness welcomes you with the nosy jeera spice…
These are just a few selected breads of Goan. They represent the region of culinary diversity and rich food heritage and experience. If one is reluctant, or unsure about travel or first time visitors to the Goan region. I hope you at least find these breads to provide a delicious representation of Goa as a place to tap into their food and culinary culture!
