Sorak Curry (Goan Vegetarian Coconut Curry)

One of my personal favorite curries is this Sorak Curry, which is a typical vegetarian Goan Coconut Curry, that I usually make at home. This traditional Goan-style curry is made during monsoons, and is prepared with dried Kashmiri red chilies, fresh grated coconut and spices. The recipe is also naturally vegan, easy yet delicious and goes amazingly well with steamed rice, turning your mealtime into a comforting, satisfying one.

Why Sorak Curry Is A Winner

Sorak Curry is a specialty of Goa and is a must during the monsoon season. Due to heavy rains, it is impossible to get fish. So, the locals make sorak and a side dish of dried fish or vegetables with it.

What makes this curry even more amazing is the fact that it is naturally vegan. The ingredients used in it make for unique tasty curry for your vegan diets.

This Sorak Curry tastes best when cooked in earthen or clay pots. But if you don’t have any of these, then use a steel pan to make this curry.

One variation that you can do in this curry is to add vegetables. But whether you’re adding veggies or not, the curry will taste good either way.

Some of the variations that I make with this Sorak Curry are:

• Goan Vegetable Curry, with mixed vegetables and mushrooms
• Tomato Curry, a spiced and mildly tangy one, made in Goan-style

This Sorak Curry is flavorful with tastes that are tangy and subtly spiced. It goes well with Goan pao (poi) and brun pao.

We even like to have the curry with toasted bread. During our growing up years, we used to have this sorak with pao (buns) along with steamed rice and veggies.

Typical Ingredients Used

Together with fresh coconut, onions, a few herbs and spices; this Sorak Curry recipe uses Kokum (Garcinia Indica), which is what imparts the desired sourness in the gravy. Kokum is now easily available online on amazon and other stores.

However, if you cannot source it, add tamarind or tomatoes instead. Though, both are not substitutes for kokum, but they do contribute adding the sour taste element to the curry. If you manage to buy kokum then you can also give a try to this delicious cooling tangy drink from Goa – Solkadhi.

Here are the measurements that you can refer to while adding any of the above mentioned alternatives to kokum in this Sorak Curry:

• If using tamarind, then add 1 teaspoon tamarind (without seeds) while grinding the coconut paste.
• If using tamarind paste, then add ¼ teaspoon directly in the curry.
• If using tomatoes, then add 1 medium tomato while grinding the coconut paste.

Apart from the tanginess, the beautiful color of the Sorak Curry is due to the dried Kashmiri chilies that are used. These also help in balancing the tanginess and make the coconut curry not too spicy, as Kashmiri chillies are not spicy or pungent.

Thus, the gravy does not turn overly fiery. The mild spiciness is what makes it a choice of dish for many who have an aversion to spicy food.

How to make Sorak Curry

Make Coconut Paste

1. Keep all the ingredients ready to make the curry. Only garlic cloves are missing in the picture below, which I added while grinding the masala paste.

2. Add the following ingredients in a sturdy grinder or blender:

• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 5 to 6 dried Kashmiri red chilies (broken and crowns, seeds removed)
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 cup fresh grated coconut
• 3 teaspoons coriander seeds
• ⅓ cup sliced onions
• 4 to 5 garlic cloves (small to medium-sized and peeled)

3. Add ½ to ¾ cup water and grind to a smooth and fine paste. Set this coconut paste aside.

Ensure that there are no small chunks or tiny bits or pieces of coconut in the paste.

Make Coconut Curry

4. Heat 2 tablespoons coconut oil in a pot or pan. Add ⅓ cup sliced onions.

Instead of coconut oil, you can use sunflower oil.

5. Sauté onions till they become translucent and are softened.

6. Add the prepared coconut paste.

7. Mix everything very well.

8. Add 2 cups water or as required and stir to combine.

9. Simmer the curry on medium-low to medium heat for 5 minutes.

10. Add salt as per taste.

11. Next, add 1 to 2 slit or sliced green chilies and 3 to 4 pieces of kokum.

Kokum gives a sour taste to the curry. So, if you prefer just a hint of sourness, then add 1 or 2 pieces of kokum in the curry.

12. Simmer until the curry bubbles and you see some oil specks on the top layer.

13. Turn off the heat and serve Sorak Curry hot with steamed rice.

This Sorak Curry recipe from the blog archives was first published on July 2016. It has been updated and republished on May 2024.