Dishes to try when visiting Sri Lanka
From fruits to spices and more...
Ji-Elle, Brinjal-Sri Lanka, CC BY-SA 3.0
No trip to Sri Lanka will be complete without experiencing its food. The Pearl of the Indian Ocean truly has a wide range of delicacies on offer. One reason for this variety is the prevalence of different climatic conditions on the island. Depending on where you are, the types of specialities will differ. There are also types of food that are available wherever you go. It is wise to pre-plan your stay so as to absorb in most of this unique culinary experience.
Coconut plays an important role in the Sri Lankan culinary tradition. The multitude of ways in which coconut is used to prepare food fascinates many. ‘Kiri Bath’ (Milk rice), one of the island’s most loved breakfast dishes is made by mixing rice and coconut milk. The milk is also used to cook all curries, including the quintessential ‘dhal curry’ and ‘chicken curry’. Chopped pieces of coconut and fried chillies sprinkled on devilled chickpeas make for the perfect accompaniment for when you are sipping on a glass of your favourite liquor. Scraped coconut is used in making ‘pol sambola’, a spicy dish that can be had with rice, bread or string hoppers.
If you are looking to enjoy exotic seafood and fresh tropical fruit while not being too far away from Colombo, you can head over to one of the many restaurants in Kalutara. The city’s brilliant shoreline and the lands fertilised by the waters of the ‘Kalu Ganga’ (river) ensure that the likes of AVANI Kalutara Resort have a non-stop supply of fresh seafood, fruits, vegetables and spices. This natural abundance has allowed the locals to innovate and engineer dishes over time. Among some of these dishes are ‘Ambul-Thiyal’ (fish marinated in local spices) and ‘Wambatu-Moju’ (stir fried eggplant).
Sri Lankan dinner menus are as extravagant as its breakfast menus. ‘Kottu’ and Hoppers (‘Aappa’ in Sinhala) are two celebrated speciality dishes that are available almost anywhere you go on the island. Try as many dishes during your stay because they are to die for.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.