Guyanese Gojas

Making gojas during the Hindu holiday of Holi is a tradition in my home. It is one of several sweets my family would prepare to share with our loved ones in observance of this exciting time of year. Gojas are a festive hand pie with a filling consisting of grated coconut sweetened with brown sugar flavored with warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. The filling is sealed and folded like an empanada, then shallow fried.

Although this pastry is typically made during Holi and Diwali, it can be enjoyed year-round (and at any time of day). It is a dessert, breakfast pastry, and teatime snack all in one and no one will judge you for devouring them whenever your taste buds desire!

Celebrating Holi With Family

Holi is a Hindu holiday which celebrates good over evil and new beginnings. For Hindus in India, it marks the beginning of spring. Hindu scripture tells the story of the destruction of the demoness Holika. Some families hold religious ceremonies to commemorate this victory, but for many this is a time of laughter and fun. Celebrations include throwing brightly colored powder at each other along with fragrant colored water. 

I have many memories of making gojas with my mom, grandmother, and cousins during Holi. My cousins and I couldn’t wait to get home from school to go to my grandmother’s house. Trays of pholourie, mithai, gulgula, and gojas lined the kitchen counters waiting to be arranged into small platters to share with loved ones who would come over to visit. 

We naturally formed an assembly line when ready to make gojas. One of us rolled the dough, the other would fill and seal, while frying was left to one of the adults. As soon as one goja was cooled enough, I’d break it open and give half to my cousin. We’d stand there in silence savoring every shred of coconut before my grandmother hustled us to get back to rolling and filling. The atmosphere was happy and loving. It was a time to connect, laugh, and truly enjoy each other’s company.

What Are Guyanese Gojas? 

Guyanese goja is a variation of the North Indian gujiya, which have a basic flaky dough for the crust and a filling of sweetened milk solids. Many Indians in Guyana lost their native language over time and therefore the names of certain dishes and ingredients were also unremembered. Visual similarities in the dishes help in this regard. North Indian gujiya and Guyanese goja are similar in their shape and identity, but the filling and flavors differ. 

Goja Filling

The filling consists of coconut flakes sweetened with brown sugar and flavored with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. A tablespoon of finely grated ginger adds a noticeable zing. I love raisins in my gojas, and if you love them too, add a handful for a juicy bite.

After making the dough, you can add the spiced coconut mixture straight away, or cook it on the stovetop briefly to help the sugar melt. Have your dough cut out into circles and ready for the filling. After the filling is cooled, pat it nicely into the dough. Fold it over, seal and then fry it to a light golden brown.  

The Best Coconut for This Goja Recipe

Traditionally, using freshly grated coconut (from desiccated coconut) makes this turnover extra delicious, but it can be time consuming to source and prep, especially if you don’t have the specific type of grater needed. Store bought sweetened coconut flakes work in a pinch and won’t compromise the coconut flavor.

To get it as close as possible to freshly grated coconut I love to pulse the store-bought shredded coconut in a food processor to a fine texture—it makes all the difference in mouthfeel.

How to Make Goja Dough

The dough for gojas is typically made from scratch. It’s straightforward and uncomplicated—it consists of all-purpose flour with a bit of yeast or baking powder, butter, and sugar. Cold milk or water is added and brought together with a spatula then gently kneaded.

The texture is flaky right out the fryer, but more so delicate and soft as it cools. Store bought pie crust can be used in its place, but it tends to be a bit salty, so I prefer to make the dough from scratch.

How to Fry Gojas

Gojas are shallow fried in canola or vegetable oil at 350°F. A Dutch oven works well here for keeping the oil at an even temperature. Fry just a couple at a time being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Flip them once and remove using a slotted spoon or tongs onto a paper towel lined plate. I love using this splatter screen to avoid any bits of oil splattering out while frying. It will help avoid getting oil all over your stove, too!

Goja Variations

You can adjust the filling based on preference. In this recipe I’m using store bought flaked coconut and added a handful of raisins. Other times when I make this recipe, I’ve added a handful of slivered almonds or other dried fruit like currants or dried cherries. I think many different flavors can work in this coconut mixture. You may see another variation of Guyanese goja where the filling is colored with red food coloring. This is purely for aesthetics and for a festive feel.

Air-Frying Guyanese Gojas

If you prefer to air-fry these instead of shallow-frying, you most certainly can. Spray the air fryer basket with coconut oil or a neutral oil spray to keep it from sticking. Then, add in the gojas, making sure not to overlap (you’ll have to cook them in batches) and air fry at 350°F for 8 to10 minutes. 

Make Ahead Guyanese Gojas

You can assemble these ahead of time and freeze for up to 6 months. I like to place a piece of parchment paper in a gallon size zip top bag and place each goja flat in the bag, as much as can fit. Put another piece of parchment paper on that layer and repeat until all the gojas are in the bag. Seal and lay flat in the freezer.

When you’re ready to fry, remove the bag from the freezer and let it come to room temperature on the counter for about 30 minutes before frying. 

How to Store Guyanese Gojas

These are best enjoyed warm, but if there are any leftovers, store them wrapped in a paper towel in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to reheat, I’ve found the toaster oven to be useful in getting a crisp crust. You can also reheat in the microwave for about 30 seconds.