Bebinca- A multi layered cake of Goan dessert

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Bebinca- A multi layered cake of Goan dessert

Bebinca- A multi layered cake of Goan dessert

What is Bebinca?

Bebinca is a traditional Multi-layered Goan cake made up of thin layer of coconut flavored batter consist of Refined flour, coconut milk, egg & sugar/palm Jaggery. It is like a pudding which usually has 6 to 7 layers but it can vary from 6 layer to 16 layers depending upon how many layers you want to make. Traditionally bebinca has 16 layers.

Each layer is cooked separately and ghee is placed between two layers to impart moistness and then stacked each other to create the Cake structure. It is originated in Goa during Portuguese time and popularly known as “Queen of Goa Dessert”.

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Characteristic of Bebinca:-

One of the most distinctive feature of Bebinca is its multi-layered structure which is achieved by baking several thin layers of coconut flavored batter and placed one on each other, this result in dense ,moist and somewhat chewy texture.

Each Layer is baked seperately and it takes around 4 hrs to prepare it. It is often garnish with nutmeg and almond.

Traditionally, bebinca is prepared in earthenware (Tizals) in which slow burning coconut husks are kept on top of the pot to cream heat inside the earthen pot. This imparts a complex smoky flavors to the bebinca.

It has rich & creamy taste due to use of coconut milk & ghee. It is baked until it forms a golden brown color, this add a hint of crispness. Due to rich flavor & its complex preparation ,it is usually considered as “Queen of Goan dessert”.
Its rich, sweet taste & distinct texture makes it a beloved treat during festivals like Easter, Christmas & wedding celebration by Goan people. Typically it is served at Room Temperature with Ice creams or fresh cream.

This traditional Goan dish showcase the Goa’s multi-cultural culinary history and recently got a Geographical Indication Tag (GI Tag) from the Geographical Indication Registry, Govt of India.

Ingredient & its Role:-

Refined Flour: Refined is one of the main ingredient of Bebinca which gives structure and stability to the Cake.

Coconut milk:-Coconut milk is the star ingredients in Bebinca dessert that imparts the signature Tropical flavor to the dessert. It also provide moisture to the cake.

Egg yolk:-The egg yolk is used as a binding agent in this dessert imparting a rich and creamy texture to the cake. It provide golden brown color to the cake when baked. Excess of egg yolk leads to the creation of Bebinca.

Sugar/Jaggery:-Sugar add sweetness to the cake and impart the golden brown color to the layers of cake when baked.

Ghee:-Ghee is usually applied between the layers of the cake to impart nutty flavor and richness to the dessert.

Ingredients:-

Refined Flour:- 300gms
Sugar/ Palm Jaggery:-900gms
Eggs:- 18Nos
Coconut Milk:- 1.5ltr
Ghee:- 120ml
Nutmeg powder:- Pinch
Salt:- Pinch

https://zeezest.com/food/the-gi-tagged-goan-bebinca-and-its-many-delicious-cousins-5481

Brief history of Bebinca:-

The history of this popular multilayered Goan pudding is debatable. According to the prominent historian Fatima da silva Gracias Book:- Cozinha de Goa:- History & Tradition of Goan Food states that One of Nuns namely Bebinca from Santa Monica Convent in Old Goa had invented this seven-layered pudding using left over egg yolk with Coconut Milk, Sugar , Ghee & Flour to symbolize the Seven hills of the old Goa & Lisbon. This pudding was then sent to Priests for eating. The Priests was very impressed and pointed that Seven layers were not enough for them. He suggested Bebinca to increase more layers and keep at lease 12 layers. Today this multi-layered dessert is Known as Bebinca in her honor and boost 7 to as many as 16 layers.

Bebinca is a traditional Goan dessert with roots in the region’s Portuguese colonial history. It is a layered pudding made from coconut milk, sugar, eggs, ghee (clarified butter), and flour. The dessert’s name, “bebinca,” comes from the Konkani word “bebi,” meaning “baby,” symbolizing the richness and smooth texture of the dish.

GI Tagging of Bebinca

Bebinca -A multi layered cake of Goa was granted Geographical Indication Tag (GI Tag) by the Geographical Indication registry Chennai in the year August 2023. It has been registered in the name of All Goa bakers & Confectioners association under class 30 of food stuffs. The GI Number of Bebinca is 746.