While visiting the island, do you yearn to try some delectable Sri Lankan cuisine? Sri Lanka presents the ideal possibility with an abundance of delicious dishes. For food enthusiasts who enjoy indulging in delicious foods, traveling to Sri Lanka is a positive experience. Although rice and curries dominate the Sri Lankan food scene, there are many delectable side dishes to go along with it. You’ll notice that Sri Lankan banquets feature a wide variety of colorful dishes. Here, we’ll list the Sri Lankan delicacies that you really must try.
1. Rice & Curry
Sri Lankan rice and curry, which is regarded as the country’s national meal, consists of steaming hot, fluffy rice (of the samba or kakulu varieties) that is served with a variety of side dishes often referred to as curries. The rice is normally served with at least three (preferably five) different curries, one of which is typically made with fish or meat and the other two with vegetables.
Sambol, a Sri Lankan relish, a gravy or hodda with spices and coconut milk, mallum (chopped leaves with coconut), and fried crispy snacks like papadams are typical accompaniments to rice and curries. This meal is a specialty that is frequently prepared at home and is unquestionably a mainstay on Sri Lankan restaurant menus.
2. String Hoppers
For breakfast, String Hoppers are a good option. It goes well with hot coconut sambol and a few curries. With your selected curry, you can choose either white or red string hoppers. Typically, string hoppers are served with chicken curry, dhal curry, egg curry, or potato curry.
To mix with string hoppers, you need a curry with some gravy. For string hoppers, a mild curry and a hot coconut sambol work best. Before tasting, you must thoroughly combine the curries and sambol with the string hoppers. Don’t forget to try this delicious Sri Lankan meal; you’ll adore it without a doubt.
3. Hoppers
Crispy on the outside and soft and tasty inside. It is fun to watch it being prepared as the chef pours the batter into the tiny tachi (small wok) that gives this meal its unique shape before whirling it to obtain an even layer that will form the hopper’s crunchy outside. This delicious bowl-shaped carb is frequently served with a hot curry or sambal. The Egg Hopper is similar, but instead of using a fried egg in the center, an egg is cracked and placed in the center of the batter that is still cooking.
4. Pittu
Pittu was once only served for breakfast, but it is now a common dinnertime dish. Grated coconut and rice flour are combined to make pittu. To make pittu, you can either use red or white rice flour. For preparing pittu, some people also use steamed wheat flour. Pittu’s distinctive cylindrical shape makes it seem great on the dining table.This delicious evening dish pairs well with any spicily spiced curry made with meat, fish, or vegetables as well as coconut milk and chili paste. Sri Lankans adore this lovely and delectable dinner dish that may be made with such basic materials.
5. Coconut Roti
A rustic flatbread recipe from Sri Lanka called pol roti, also known as coconut roti, is cooked with wheat, freshly grated coconut, diced green chilies, and onions for texture. This Sri Lankan roti recipe is vegan and vegetarian because it only calls for flour and coconut. At stationary carts, Sri Lankan roti is available as a tea-time snack. A quick breakfast on the go, they come with a spicy lunumiris sandwiched between two rotis and more curries on the side as an alternative. The simplicity of making coconut and wheat roti at home makes it a convenient alternative for breakfast and dinner.
6. Milk Rice [ Kiribath]
Another typical Sri Lankan breakfast meal is kiribath. It has a very subtle flavor and is created with coconut milk and rice. In Sri Lanka, kiribath is the cuisine with the most religious overtones compared to all other foods. Every auspicious event is started by the Sinhalese people giving kiribath to Buddha. Every Sinhalese eats it as their first meal of the New Year. the infant’s first solid food, of course!
7. Watalappan
Wattalapan! a delicious pudding made locally with a consistency that falls between jelly and crème brule. With undertones of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg, this meal has a delicious, almost chocolate-like flavor. Watalappan is a custard dessert from Sri Lanka that is created with coconut milk, jaggery, eggs, and flavors like cardamom and nutmeg. Watalappan, also referred to as the most well-known Sri Lankan dessert, is thought to have traveled to the island from Malaysia. Today, it plays a crucial role in the lives and occasions of the Muslim population of Sri Lanka. After a dinner, Sri Lankans make sure to indulge in a delectable dessert. Sri Lankans’ preferred dessert among them is watalappan.
In conclusion, anyone who appreciates robust, savory dishes should try Sri Lankan cuisine. Everyone may appreciate something, from the flavorful curries to the delectable street cuisine. The best way to fully experience Sri Lankan culture and traditions, whether you are a first-time visitor or have been there previously, is to get to know the local cuisine. Don’t pass up the chance to indulge in these tantalizing treats during your subsequent trip to Sri Lanka!