The national cuisine of Sri Lanka is distinguished by its spice and sharpness, while it is quite difficult to call it diverse and refined. Many modern Sri Lankan chefs do not add too hot seasonings. Many dishes use coconut milk, a mixture of spices and spices-curry, cardamom, cloves, cumin, cinnamon, coriander.
Features of national Sri Lankan cuisine
The culinary traditions of the national cuisine of Sri Lanka are in many ways similar to the peculiarities of Asian cuisine. The traditional menu is dominated by vegetables, fish, seafood and, of course, rice with a lot of seasonings.
The culinary preferences of Sri Lankans were formed under the influence of Indian cuisine. The main thing that unites these two cuisines is a large amount of curry, it is prepared from different combinations of spices. For different dishes, curry is prepared according to an individual recipe, using certain seasonings.
Interesting fact! In order for the dish to acquire a unique, bright aroma, the spices are fried separately in vegetable oil, after which other ingredients are added.
The national cuisine of Sri Lanka in many ways resembles Indian, but there is one important difference between them. Products for Indian dishes are heat-treated, and on the island they prefer to preserve the natural taste and benefits of ingredients.
The British, Dutch, and Portuguese dominated the territory of Sri Lanka for a long period, which undoubtedly influenced the national culinary traditions.
Sri Lankan cuisine, will appeal to fans of vegetarian dishes. There is practically no meat in the national menu, most often Sri Lankans eat chicken.
Interesting fact! The cow in Sri Lanka is a sacred animal, so the locals do not eat beef, however, tourists will prepare a dish of any kind of meat. The exception is Muslim establishments with halal food – beef is not served here.
Sri Lanka is a paradise for fish and seafood lovers. Most of the delicacies are presented in the coastal regions. The main product is tuna, the fish is loved for its meatiness, and is sold quite inexpensively. In the restaurant you can try different types of shrimp, lobster, crab. Fresh food and seafood can be purchased at the morning markets, which open at 4 am and close at 9 am.
Useful to know! A full meal of tuna, vegetable salad and drinks for two costs about $15-20, lobster $14-20, and 6-7 pieces of king prawns and a portion of rice will cost $9-10.
The main dish of Sri Lanka is rice, more than 15 varieties are grown in the country, and they are prepared in a variety of ways. The most popular treat is rice with curry.
It is important! Many local restaurants speculate on this dish-they require payment for each seasoning separately. As a result, the price reaches Rs 1,000, and in a small establishment, rice with curry can be tasted for just Rs 200.
The second most popular national product is coconut. The national cuisine of Sri Lanka includes treats made from nut pulp, coconut milk, coconut oil and even palm nectar. If you want to try an exotic delicious fruit, choose a fruit with orange pulp.
Plant-based food is also common in the national cuisine of Sri Lanka. Vacationers are offered a lot of greenery, there are traditional dill and parsley, you can also try exotic bamboo shoots, palm inflorescences, seaweed.
The locals love pastries, the bread is very tasty, you should definitely try parota tortillas-they are served separately and with different fillings.
Dairy products are presented on the island – milk with chocolate and fruit, cheese, yoghurts, kurd.
If you love fruit, Sri Lankan cuisine will delight you with a huge variety of dishes from bananas, mango, durian, avocado, pomelo, wooden apple, tamarin, passion fruit, carom.
Useful to know! The cheapest fruits are available in roadside stalls.
What to try in Sri Lanka
1. Curry
An integral part of Sri Lankan cuisine – curry is a mixture of spices (black and chili peppers, mustard, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, garlic and curry plant leaves).
Curry dishes:
- with fish and rice;
- with fish in sauce-fish is fried with onions and banana peppers, then stewed in sweet and sour gravy, it is better to try with fried rice;
- with lentils-lentils are stewed in coconut milk with a different set of spices;
- jackfruit curry – pieces of fruit seasoned with spices;
- beetroot – the vegetable is shredded and stewed in a mixture of seasonings, served with a side dish of rice;
- eggplant – a multicomponent dish made from eggplant, onions, fish, coconut milk and a bouquet of spices;
- made from squid or shrimp.
On a note! What dishes are worth trying in Thailand, see this page.
2. Kottu
Incredibly delicious street food, similar to a hamburger. Kotta is made from Sri Lankan bread, meat, vegetables, and spices. The dish is prepared in front of your eyes, so you can safely try it.
Varieties of kottu:
- egg-a vegetarian dish, it is prepared from vegetables with the addition of eggs;
- Cheese Kottu-it’s impossible to travel around Sri Lanka and not try this amazing cheeseburger-like dish.
3. Roti
The dish can not be called the most popular. However, if you are lucky enough to try a flatbread with a filling, the treat will certainly be anything. Roti does not differ in taste from Mexican chorizo.
Interesting fact! Tourists are offered to try roti with different fillings.
4. Hoppers or appa
Another iconic dish to try while traveling in Sri Lanka. Hoppers-a pancake made from rice flour, coconut milk and palm wine. Fry the dough in a wok, so the pancake turns out to be thick in the middle, and thin along the edges.
It is important! The dish is best served with scrambled eggs, fried and placed in the center of the pancake. Instead of eggs, the pancake is supplemented with sweet coconut chips.
5. Tosai
National dish of lentils, shallots, curry and fried in sesame oil, served with coconut pulp.
A variety of tosai dishes – small cutlets made from rice flour, salt, sugar and yeast, seasoned with hot sauce.
6. Sambol
An exotic dish made with coconut pulp, chili pepper, lime and red onion. Try the treat better with a flatbread of roti or rice.
7. Fried rice
Many national dishes of Sri Lanka consist of fried rice. It can be supplemented with chicken, vegetables, eggs, or seafood. It is prepared in a wok and you can try it right on the street.
8. Kiribati
An amazing dish, you can try it in many local restaurants. Kiribati is made from white rice and coconut milk, seasoned with spices, onions, lemon. You can also order sweet Kiribati-with coconut chips and palm honey.
National Sri Lankan drinks
The main drink on the island, of course, is tea. Whole tea plantations are grown here, raw materials are collected by hand. The assortment includes pure tea mixes with pieces of fruit and herbs. The most popular recipe for making tea is with milk.
Coconut milk is very popular, it can be purchased directly in the nut and drunk from a straw. In addition to coconut milk, vacationers are offered a large number of freshly squeezed juices from a wide variety of fruits.
Local Lion beer is quite tasty, because it is prepared according to the traditional recipe, it is sold for 450-500 rupees in a cafe, in the store a bottle of 0.6 liters costs 260 rupees. The island has a system where residents hand over a bottle and buy beer at a discount.
While vacationing at the resort, you should definitely try Ginger Beer. This is not beer at all, as indicated in the name, but ginger-based lemonade. Of course, you should not get carried away with a drink if you save your figure.
Rum is popular in Sri Lanka, and most often red Calypso rum is brought as a souvenir. The drink is quite sweet, it is made from sugar cane. The cost in stores is about 2600-2800 rupees for 0.75 liters. You can try several varieties of red rum — Silver and Gold, they differ in aging.
The cuisine of Sri Lanka is undoubtedly different from the traditional European cuisine, and this attracts tourists. Each dish is a unique bouquet of spices, which give an exotic taste and aroma to Sri Lankan treats.
