Kuswar

Last updated

Kuswar or Kuswad is a set of festive sweets and snacks made and exchanged by Christians of the Konkan region in the Indian subcontinent for the Christmas season or Christmastide. These goodies are major parts of the cuisines of the Goan Catholic community of Goa in the Konkan region, and the Mangalorean Catholic community of Karnataka. [1] There are as many as 22 different ethnic recipes that form this distinct flavour of Christmas celebration in Goa and Mangalore. [2] Kuswad is also made and exchanged by Karwari Catholics of Carnataca and the Kudali Catholics of Sindhudurg, in the Konkan division of Maharashtra.

Contents

Koswad in Bombay metro Kuswar in Bombay.jpg
Koswad in Bombay metro

Koswad, derived from the Indo-Portuguese term consoada , refers to the dinner served on Christmas Eve; it is synonymous with the Christmas spirit of "sharing" for the Bombay East Indian Catholics in their native Maharashtri Konkani dialects. Koswad ranges from kidyos and nevryos, to Christmas cakes, duck roasts, marzipan & other delicacies. [3] [4] [5]

Goa

Kolkola or Kulkuls Goan Kolkola.jpg
Kolkola or Kulkuls
Nevrio or Neuries Goan Nevrio.jpg
Nevrio or Neuries
Baath (coconut-semolina cake) Goan Baath.jpg
Baath (coconut-semolina cake)

The kuswar of Goan Catholics contains as many as 22 different traditional recipes that give a distinct flavour to Christmas celebration in Goa. [6]

Mangalore

Mangalorean Catholic Kuswar in Bombay (Mumbai) Kuswar (Bombay).jpg
Mangalorean Catholic Kuswar in Bombay (Mumbai)

The kuswar of Mangalorean Catholics also has traditional recipes. Neuero or Neuries are puffs stuffed with plums, nuts, and fried theel (sesame) and sugar. Kidyo or Kulkuls are curly concoctions dipped in sugar treacle, Pathekas are savoury of green nandarkai bananas. Simple salted or sweetened Tukdi (Diamond Cuts), theel Laadus and Golios are other items found in kuswar. Macaroons [ dubious ] is what Manglore is famous for and the subtle flavoured Rose Biscuits are a favourite. The Rich Plum Cake takes the better part of a week to make. Candied fruit, plums, currents and raisins are cut and soaked in rum. Flour is sieved and gently warmed in the sun. Nuts are shelled and chopped and families make the cake together. Jobs are allotted; one whips up the eggs while another creams the butter and sugar, cake tins are lined, and a strong pair of arms are requested to do the final mixing and stirring. The Mitais, Mandas, Ushae, Pitae & Manni are well-known, sweet dishes included in the kuswar. [8]

Mumbai (Bombay), Thana (Trombay) & Vasai (Bassein)

The koswad of Bombay East Indian Catholics also includes recipes like thali sweets, donuts, date rolls etc. These are not found among Goans of southern Konkan, Mangaloreans or Karwaris of Carnataca & Damanese of Damaon, Dio & Silvassa.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dessert</span> Sweet course that concludes a meal

Dessert is a course that concludes a meal. The course consists of sweet foods, such as cake, biscuit, ice cream and possibly a beverage such as dessert wine and liqueur. Some cultures sweeten foods that are more commonly savory to create desserts. In some parts of the world there is no tradition of a dessert course to conclude a meal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marzipan</span> Confection of sugar, honey and almond flour

Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal, sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fruitcake</span> Cake made with candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices

Fruitcake or fruit cake is a cake made with candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and optionally soaked in spirits. In the United Kingdom, certain rich versions may be iced and decorated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rice pudding</span> Dish made from rice mixed with water or milk

Rice pudding is a dish made from rice mixed with water or milk and commonly other ingredients such as sweeteners, spices, flavourings and sometimes eggs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rum ball</span> Truffle-like confection of cookie butter flavored with chocolate and rum

Rum balls are a truffle-like confectionery cake of cookie butter flavoured with chocolate and rum. They are roughly the size of a golf ball and often coated in chocolate sprinkles, desiccated coconut, or cocoa. As their name implies, these treats contain rum. Because they are not baked, the alcohol flavour and kick are not neutralized during preparation. Rum balls are especially popular during the holiday season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lankan cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan cuisine is known for its particular combinations of herbs, spices, fish, vegetables, rices, and fruits. The cuisine is highly centered around many varieties of rice, as well as coconut which is a ubiquitous plant throughout the country. Seafood also plays a significant role in the cuisine, be it fresh fish or preserved fish. As a country that was a hub in the historic oceanic silk road, contact with foreign traders brought new food items and cultural influences in addition to the local traditions of the country's ethnic groups, all of which have helped shape Sri Lankan cuisine. Influences from Indian, Indonesian and Dutch cuisines are most evident with Sri Lankan cuisine sharing close ties to other neighbouring South and Southeast Asian cuisines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bebinca</span> Indo-Portuguese dessert pudding

Bebinca or bebinka, is a layer cake of Indo-Portuguese cuisine in former Estado da Índia Portuguesa Goa, India. In traditional baking, a bebinca has between 7 and 16 layers, but bakeries can modify the cake recipe as per convenience and taste. It is especially popular during the Christmas season, but is available all year round due to tourism in Goa. It is also easily available to carry and preserve for a long time or eaten fresh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Somalia

Somali cuisine was influenced by many different countries mainly due to trade, but traditionally also varies from region to region due to the expansive landmass Somalis inhabit. It is the product of Somalia's tradition of trade and commerce. Some notable Somali specialties include kimis / sabaayad, canjeero / laxoox, xalwo (halwa), sambuusa (samosa), bariis iskukaris, and muqmad / oodkac.

Goan cuisine consists of regional foods popular in Goa, an Indian state located along India's west coast on the shore of the Arabian Sea. Rice, seafood, coconut, vegetables, meat, bread, pork and local spices are some of the main ingredients in Goan cuisine. Use of kokum and vinegar is another distinct feature. Goan food is considered incomplete without fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidyo</span>

Kidyo also known as Kulkuls are a sweet food, part of the goodies, Kuswar prepared for the Christmas festival celebrated in Goa and Mangalore, as well as the East Indian Community of Maharashtra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangalorean Catholic cuisine</span> Type of South Indian cuisine

The Mangalorean Catholic Cuisine is the cuisine of the Mangalorean Catholic community.

Patoleo are stuffed turmeric leaf wraps, a dish which is mostly prepared on the western coast of India. The main stuffing is made from freshly shredded coconut, rice flour paste, and palm jaggery; and cooked by wrapping and steaming in turmeric leaves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goan Catholic cuisine</span> Cuisine of the Goan Catholic community

Goan Catholic Cuisine is the cuisine of the Goan Catholic community and is largely influenced by Portuguese cuisine. Due to over 450 years of Portuguese rule, the cuisine of Goan Catholics is dominated by ingredients and techniques of Portuguese cuisine like deep-frying, oven-baking, pork, vinegar, egg-based desserts, alcohol, etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanna (dish)</span> Indian savoury rice cake

A sanna is a spongy, steamed, and savoury unfilled dumpling originally made of red rice, black lentil and coconut in the Konkan region, by the western coast of the Indian subcontinent. They originated in Goa and Damaon, Mangalore, Bombay and Bassein (Vasai), and are especially popular among Goans, both the Goan Hindus and Goan Christians, and also among the Konkani migrants outside Konkan in Karachi, Sindh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala. They are also loved by the people of the Konkan division, such as the Kuparis of the Bombay East Indian community.

<i>Dodol</i> Indonesian sweet toffee

Dodol is a sweet toffee-like sugar palm-based confection commonly found in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Originating from the culinary traditions of Indonesia, it is also popular in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Southern India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Burma, where it is called mont kalama. It is made from coconut milk, jaggery, and rice flour, and is sticky, thick, and sweet.

Nevryo is an Indian sweet dumpling made predominantly in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and Goa, just before Christmas. It is also prepared during the Hindu festivals of Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louise cake</span> New Zealand cake

Louise cake or Louise slice is a baked New Zealand sweet dish that consists of raspberry jam and coconut-flavoured meringue on a shortbread base. The confection's name may refer to the 1871 wedding of Princess Louise.

References

  1. MichaelLuu (25-12-2021), KFC, apples as gifts, Kuswar: Unusual Christmas traditions these people swear by . Australian Broadcasting Corporation .
  2. Metro Plus Mangalore,  Santa, cakes and kuswar [usurped] . [25-11-2006]. The Hindu . Archived from the original [usurped] .
  3. "Peek into the Christmas Kitchen of an East Indian". 16 December 2017.
  4. "16 Christmas Destinations in India with Unique Customs and Culture! – Orange Wayfarer". 17 December 2018.
  5. "How the East Indian community, considered Mumbai's original inhabitants, is celebrating Christmas". 25 December 2016.
  6. Sharon Fernandes (14-12-2014),  Kusvad at Mãe’s . The Indian Express .
  7. Joanna Lobo (19-12-2020),  For Goan Catholics, Christmas is incomplete without the sweets . Condé Nast Traveller .
  8. Pai, RoseMary Albuquerque (2006). "Mangalorean Catholic Cuisine". The Summer Sands Online newspaper. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2009.