The legendary Saraswati river was mentioned in Rig-Veda circa 1500 BCE. Perhaps climate change caused the river to dry up, and its people migrated southward. Stories say that in ancient days, 96 Saraswat-Brahmin families set up in Goa. This mysterious river has spawned legend and magical folklore and had been dismissed as imaginary. In recent times, Satellite and geophysical imagery identified that a significant riverbed, possibly the Saraswat, did indeed exist in the northwest region of the sub-continent. 

A few years ago, I managed to find my way to the home of kindergarten classmate Parag. Here I got a lesson in new techniques and recipes, from his mum and his spouse, Manisha. 

Konkani-Dal: lentils tempered with coconut, ginger, garlic, cumin, flavored with Goa’s famous sour-plum, kokum.

Rice: Boiled rice drizzled with ghee.

Kokum potato: Potatoes seasoned with coriander and cayenne, flavored with tart Kokum.

Carrot-cachumber: Tender, seasonal carrots tempered with coconut-shell smoke and spices. 

Chapati: Whole wheat, unleavened flat bread, brushed with ghee.

Tomato chutney: Roasted tomatoes and peppers tempered with mustard and hing.

Mixed Vegetable pickle: Seasonal vegetables fermented with Goan salt and spices.

Raspberry Ice-Fruit: Refreshing Garden-Berry Pops.