Venita Gomes
Goan cuisine boasts of a delicious array of dishes. However, during the Sao Joao festival, the focus turns to Goa's seasonal fruits and famed home-cooked sweet treats, prepared in a traditional manner in homes.
During Sao Joao, a variety of rice-based sweets like patoleo, pudde and shevyo take center stage. Rice is typically ground into a paste, that forms the base for many of these traditional delicacies.
Pudde, donne, holle refer to conical sweets, which have a base of rice flour, and are wrapped in jackfruit leaves. Their filling is a delightful combination of grated coconut and jaggery.
This perfect Sao Joao sweet in prepared by spreading rice paste on a turmeric leaf, and then adding dollops of a coconut-jaggery mixture. This is then steamed and served to guests.
Melt-in-your-mouth shevyo are Goa's delicate rice noodles, which are traditionally paired with godd-chunn, a sweet and crunchy mixture of coconut and jaggery. For a comforting twist, enjoy them dipped in a warm sauce of coconut milk and jaggery.
Jackfruit is a popular fruit in Goa during the monsoon season. At Sao Joao, locals select the finest jackfruits to enjoy as a refreshing snack, while also celebrating with lively dancing and well-hopping throughout the village.
Besides jackfruit, one can also enjoy freshly-cut fruits like pineapple, mango and watermelon. These juicy treats are perfect to enjoy as the rain falls, without any worry of them getting soggy.