A delicious traditional mango gravy Ingredients: 1 half ripe Alphonso mango ½ tsp chilli powder 3 tbsp grated coconut 1 tsp sugarcane jaggery 1 green chilli ½ tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp mustard seeds 1tsp curry leaves   Method: Put salt on mango pieces and let it marinate Grind the chilli powder, coconut, jaggery, green chilli, and turmeric powder, to a paste. Heat some oil in a pan and put in the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Then add the mangoes, ground paste, and a little water. Cook till ready.

The perfect mouthwatering accompaniment Ingredients: 50 mangoes {Tip: while purchasing the mangoes, prick a mango with a toothpick to ensure that the seed is soft} These mangoes should be put in a bucket in layers and the below ingredients should be put for these layers. Lastly, a wooden lid should cover all the mangoes and a heavy weight should be kept evenly on top of it.  After every 3 days stir the mangoes. Keep the mangoes for 10-12 days. Gradually you will notice that water comes out. ½ kg salt 100 grams small chillies 2 grams asafoetida (hing) 1 tsp methi seeds 2 tsp mustard seeds 1 garlic pod (smashed)   Method: After 12 days take the mangoes out and slit them halfway from the top and discard the seed which is inside. Then stuff the mangoes with the below mentioned stuffing: Masala: Roast the following separately:  ¼ kg mustard seeds(rye),  1 tablespoon methi,  Handful of Coarse salt (sea salt). In a vessel, put one litre of oil and heat it and let it cool. Take a little oil and brown two pods of garlic pieces in it. Take a little of the above oil, add to it 10gms of […]

Neeta Bhat Goa, a coastal region, boasts of its shell craft.  Neeta is one such person who practices this beautiful craft. He ingeniously incorporates shells into various household items like flower vases, table lamps, hanging balls, shell mirrors, and showpieces. Since Neeta is registered at the Handicraft emporium, their branches sell his products. Additionally, private shops from Mapusa & Panaji buy his items. He believes in keeping a low-profit margin of only 20%. The price range for his products are approximately between Rs.17 to Rs.290.” In the future, he intends to dabble in making necklaces out of raw material like sari borders.  The gentle-natured Neeta says this about shell craft, “ Of course I enjoy it!.” Maya Shetkar  The down-to-earth person- Maya Shetkar uses simple seashells which she buys from the market to create beautiful pieces of art. At a young age of 16, Maya’s neighbour taught her this craft and over the years she has put her own creative input into seashells crafting. She makes showpieces, table lamps, curtains, flower pots, mirror work, shell flower bouquets, and earrings. Maya’s items are available at Goa Handicraft showrooms.  She also sells her work at exhibitions. Her prices start at Rs.50. She admits […]

If you live in Goa, you have probably seen D’ziners- a bespoke tailoring clothing store. Andrew Fernandes, the proprietor, has a little chat with NT GoGoaNow to share what changes have happened in his life.  Sheryl Gonsalves – NT GoGoaNow Picture Credit – Shivang Mishra I NT GoGoaNow Andrew used to be a very busy man. He used to start with his Margao store and end up at his Mapusa store. Now he uses his time to play badminton, help out in the kitchen, pray with his family, and spend time with the Bible. He even worked on some paintings which have Biblical themes. Andrew opens up about his difficulties and shares that he may have to close down some of his stores as he’s currently unable to pay the rent, electric bills, and salaries. He reveals, “We are hardly getting customers. Clothing is a lifestyle business. Now, food is more important for people than clothes.” Also, there are no events for people to dress up for. When things are well in the future, Andrew has a dream of using his beautiful Benaulim house to open up a boutique restaurant. He says, “No one can predict anything. I’m looking forward […]

The best of mango flavours in a dish     Ingredients: 1 cup raw mango pulp  1 cup ripe mango pulp 3 tbsp gram flour 1 cup buttermilk A pinch of hing (asafoetida) 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds 2 green chillies (slit) 1/2 tsp mustard seeds  Salt to taste  1 tbsp oil 6 curry leaves (chopped) 1/2 cup boondi        Method: Mix all the mango pulp, gram flour and salt. Add buttermilk and mix.   Heat oil in a pan. Put in the hing, mustard, and fenugreek. Saute.   Add curry leaves and green chillies. Saute for 2 minutes. Then put in the mango mixture. Bring it to a boil and add a bit of water if needed.    Let it simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes.    Add boondi and simmer for 5 minutes.    

Ornella Menezes, a teen from Colvale, loves to keep herself busy. She creates crochet jewellery which was even showcased for the Schulen Fernandes for Wendell Rodricks Zentangle Collection at the Lotus Make-up India Fashion Week in Delhi. She tells NT GoGoaNow that her normal days consisted of school and homework but now, during the lockdown, a lot of her time has been freed up for crochet. While everyone else’s businesses have been negatively affected, Ornella reveals that her sales increased in the midst of the lockdown days. The crochet items she usually creates are doilies, table runners, jewellery, and centrepieces. A day in her life consists of mostly creating crochet works, playing the piano, paper quilling, and taking online singing classes. The free time helped her get a lot more ideas by taking inspiration from Pinterest posts. She hardly gets bored and enthusiastically says: “I’m looking forward to buying new threads” for her crochet works. Sheryl Gonsalves | NT GoGoaNow Picture Credit – SHIVANG MISHRA II NTGOGOANOW