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Question 43 of 54 · Indian States & Union Territories
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'Balchao' and 'Sorpotel' are traditional dishes of:

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Answer: Option A — Goa

Detailed Solution

"Balchao" and "Sorpotel" are traditional dishes of Goan cuisine, which shows a strong Portuguese influence.

About Balchao:

  • It is a spicy, tangy pickle-like preparation, usually made with prawns (prawn balchao), but also with pork or fish.
  • It is cooked in a sauce of red chillies, vinegar (often toddy vinegar), garlic, ginger and spices.
  • It can be stored for a long time, which made it useful for sailors.
  • The dish is believed to have its origins in Macau, a former Portuguese colony, and was brought to Goa by the Portuguese.

About Sorpotel:

  • It is a spicy and sour dish traditionally made from pork, including pork liver and other organ meat, cooked with vinegar and spices.
  • It is usually eaten with "sannas" (steamed rice cakes) or "pao" (bread).
  • It is a special dish for Christmas and weddings in Goan Catholic homes.
  • It is said to taste better a few days after it is cooked, as the flavours mature.

Other famous Goan foods:

  • Vindaloo: a spicy pork curry; its name comes from the Portuguese "vinha d'alhos" (meat marinated in wine and garlic).
  • Xacuti: a curry made with roasted coconut and many spices, usually with chicken.
  • Cafreal: chicken marinated in a green masala.
  • Fish curry with rice ("xitt kodi"): the staple food of Goa.
  • Bebinca: a multi-layered dessert made of coconut milk, eggs, sugar and flour; the "queen of Goan desserts".
  • Feni: a liquor distilled from cashew apples or coconut toddy; "Goan Cashew Feni" received a GI tag in 2009.

About the Portuguese influence:

  • Goa was ruled by the Portuguese from 1510 to 1961.
  • The Portuguese introduced ingredients such as chillies, tomatoes, potatoes, cashew nuts and vinegar to Goan cooking.

Other states in the options:

  • Kerala: Appam, Puttu, Karimeen Pollichathu (pearl spot fish) and Sadhya.
  • Karnataka: Bisi Bele Bath, Mysore Pak and Neer Dosa (coastal Karnataka).
  • Maharashtra: Vada Pav, Misal Pav, Puran Poli and Modak.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Kerala is known for Appam and Puttu.
  • ✗Karnataka is known for Bisi Bele Bath and Mysore Pak.
  • ✗Maharashtra is known for Vada Pav and Puran Poli.

Quick tip

Remember: Balchao and Sorpotel = Goa (Portuguese influence; vinegar and pork); Vindaloo from "vinha d'alhos"; Bebinca = Goan dessert; Goan Cashew Feni = GI tag 2009.

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Indian States & Union Territories — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Indian States & Union Territories, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers state-wise GK for India: capitals, formation dates, high courts, state animals, birds and flowers, famous places, and the culture, dances and festivals that identify each state and union territory. Questions commonly ask about the newest state or union territory, the state formed on a particular date, the capitals of states, and which high court serves more than one state. Keep a single table per state with its capital, formation year and key facts. Reorganisations such as that of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 change the answers, so make sure your notes are up to date. Practise the Indian states and union territories questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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