Goan patoyo – a sweet festive tradition

August 15 is an important date in India – a day to rejoice in the country’s hard-won freedom. For Goa’s Catholic community, it is also the day when they celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (simply known as the Feast of the Assumption). As if these weren’t reasons enough to celebrate, the feast also coincides with Konsachem Fest in several parts of the state.

As with most feasts in Goa, the occasion is also associated with festive treats, the most notable being patoyo (or patoleo). This delicacy is made with simple, readily available, local ingredients — rice, jaggery, coconut and turmeric leaves, which are aplenty at this time of year

To prepare the sweet, rice is ground into a paste, which is then spread in a thin layer on the inside of a turmeric leaf. A mixture of grated coconut and palm jaggery (with cardamom, if desired) is placed over the paste, after which the leaf is folded to enclose the filling. The patoyo are then steamed in a traditional confro or a modern steamer for a few minutes, until cooked through. The patoyo are served hot, and the aromatic turmeric leaves are peeled off before eating.

CAN’T MAKE IT? BUY IT

While the sweet is made using just a couple of ingredients, and the method of preparation is fairly simple, the end result is a traditional delicacy that is to-die-for. But, if you aren’t able to prepare the delicious sweet yourself, fear not because you can always purchase it from a few outlets such as: 

• Caker’z Cart, Mapusa: +91 9538273226 or +91 8779282304


• Voltaire, Reis Magos: +91 9822588231


• Bells, St Cruz: +91 7776949084


• Joseph Bakery, Panjim: +91 9823660050


• The Goan Ladoo, St Inez: +91 96736 83182


• The Goan Kitchen, Margao: +91 8007762121


• Nicolau Bakery, Raia: +91 7875956183


• Reva's Recipes: +91 7304429066