GT Digital
The month of Shravan in Goa is a delicious celebration of local and seasonal vegetarian food and sweets, and a wonderful opportunity to indulge in these traditional delights.
It is customary to prepare a different kind of sweet every Sunday during the five Sundays of Shravan.
On the first Sunday, Muttlyo (where mutt means 'fist') are prepared. The significance of this sweetmeat is to 'bind' the five Shravan Sundays together. This steamed sweet is made of a semolina dough containing a filling of coconut and jaggery.
The following Sunday, Patoleo are prepared. Steamed in turmeric (haldi) leaves, they are made from ground rice and a jaggery-coconut filling. The stuffing is sometimes made of chana dal.
God’ann is a unique dish seen on the third Sunday. This khichdi-like rice preparation is sweet, and contains grated coconut and nuts. It is cooked along with turmeric leaves, which infuse a delightful flavour to the dish.
Godd-Ros and Polle are the specialty of the fourth Sunday of Shravan. The fermented polle are small and taste similar to a dosa. These are dipped in sweetened coconut milk (infused with cardamom), and then eaten.
On the final Sunday, Mangane is cooked. Similar to the well-known sweet, Payasam, Mangane contains sago, chana dal and nuts, and is cooked in coconut milk sweetened with jaggery. Cardamom powder and nutmeg powder gives it a distinct flavour.
In addition to these sweet treats, one can also enjoy a Shravan thali consisting of delicious Goan vegetarian dishes and local vegetables at Panjim's Kokum Curry restaurant.