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"THE BEST FOOD IN SRI LANKA
IS ALWAYS MADE BY AUNTIES."
Anthony Bourdain
When in Sri Lanka, you eat what the Sri Lankans eat; Rice & Curry. Although Western influence has crept into the palate of the people in Colombo and the island's other largest towns, still villagers in more remote areas continue to eat the traditional 03 meals of rice and curry a day - said given them health, strength and energy. You will experience, like in many other Southeast Asian countries, Sri Lanka also has absorbed much from its traders and conquerors.
Bringing together ingredients from different cultures and merging recipes created mouthwatering fusion food and resulted in amazing authentic Sri Lankan flavors that we enjoy today. A complete meal of the traditional rice and curry consists generally of a plate full of rice, and spoonfuls of various curries and sambol heaped upon it. When it comes to satisfying a thirst, the most refreshing natural local drink is "Thambili" (King Coconut water). This bright orange coconut is full of sweet water. From far back in the day, the local alcoholic favorite is made from Coconut sap. Its know as "Toddy". And the local beers are of great quality.
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Colombo is a growing metropolis with a wide variety of restaurants and styles of food that is continually expanding, changing and improving in quality.
A Taste of Sri Lanka
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RICE & CURRY
Authentic staple food of Sri Lanka is Rice & Curry which is available everywhere in the country. Rice is the staple of Lankan cuisine, and can be served as any meal plan breakfast, lunc or dinner. Most usually, with so much variety of curries (sides) this meal is the perfect lunch. Most curries include chili, turmeric, cinnamon, cardomom, coriander, rampe (pandan leaves), curry leaves, mustard, tamarind, and coconut milk.
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Tip: If you are ordering rice and curry at a restaurant, order it early becasue Rice & Curry takes time to prepare due to the variety of curries. Order early, perhaps before you leave your hotel, leave the cooks to work their magic.
2
MILK RICE (KIRI-BATH)
Milk Rice is a traditional staple of Sri Lanka that is consumed for any kind of celebration. In Sri Lanka, KiriBath can be a baby's first solid food and is also the first celebration food newlywed couples feed each other.
Avurudu (Sri Lankan New Year) is another time almost the whole country would prepare KiriBath after the sacred activities, feasting begins with Kiri Bath and other traditional oil cakes (sweet-meats). Food is always shared during new year with family, friends and neighbours. KiriBath is also widely prepared and consumed to celebrate other festivals like Thai Pongal where rice is boiled with milk and jaggery. Also as Ramadan ends, rice is cooked with spices, coconut milk and meat and on Eid-ul-Fitr Muslims share food with family, friends and neighbors.
3
THE HUMBLE HOPPER
Hopper or Appa is a traditional Sri Lankan dinner or breakfast. It is also a popular street food known locally as; (ආප්ප) appa or appam, which is basically a local version of a pancake with crispy edges. It is eaten either plain, with a chili dip (lunu-miris) or with a spicy side dish (E.g. Meat or Seafood)
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An Egghopper is when an egg is cracked into the hopper as it cooks. A very versatile food that you can customize with many toppings
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KOTTU ROTI
There’s a reason why Kottu Roti is insanely popular in Sri Lanka. Chopped flatbread mixed and mashed together with chicken and vegetables and lots of aromatic spices chopped (similar to stirfrying) on a hot plate or griddle. Similar to cooking Tepanyaki rice / noodle.
Kottu roti recipe is as delicious as it is comforting, and it also works splendidly as an anti-hangover meal. It is available with meat, seafood or vegetarian options.
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COCONUT ROTI
Pol Roti in Sinhalese translates to Coconut Roti, or coconut flatbread. It’s a very popular type of flatbread made in Sri Lanka. It can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even as a snack throughout the day.
It’s super versatile. You could eat roti with chili paste, a meat or seafood curry or even jam and butter if you like it sweet.
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TRADITIONAL OIL CAKES
The aroma of the ingredients used in the preparation tingle your nostrils inviting you to dwell into a blissful world of Avurudu sweetmeats. These are some Sinhala and Tamil preparations to celebrate the New Year. You would love them.
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Local Junk Food / Street Bites
Egg Hoppers, Kottu,Vadei, Isso Vadei (Crunchy Prawn Cake, Coconut Roti, Achcharu (Pickes), Pol Sambal (Coconut Sambol), Samosa, curry puffs, rolls, cutlets, frikadelle, kebabs etc. You will find these street snack almost anywhere you are.