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Updated by Joanna James on Mar 16, 2024
Headline for Must Try Cuisine in Kalutara – A Journey of Flavours
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Joanna James Joanna James
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Must Try Cuisine in Kalutara – A Journey of Flavours

Kalutara located along Sri Lanka's southern belt is well known for its fresh seafood and exotic choice of fruit. There are plenty of restaurants dishing out some local favourites that are must tries.

1

Mangosteen

If you haven't heard of this fruit before, Mangosteen is a rich purple coloured fruit; within its core are juicy fleshy pips like cores that are sweet to taste. The fruit is a seasonal favourite found in Kalutara and is quite tricky to eat. To get at the soft flesh you need to break open the outer shell; this is done by skilfully compressing the round fruit in your hands until it splits open. Take care though for the deep purple can easily stain your clothes.

2

Seafood

Being close to the ocean, Kalutara like most coastal towns has an abundance of seafood. The freshest fish, squid and prawns are readily available while plenty of restaurants both budget and gourmet does justice to the abundance of marine life available around the town. In fact staying at a Kalutara hotel means you will be treated to succulently flavoursome seafood dishes that are generally prepared with a touch of spice and loads of aromatic herbs. The Fresh Lobster Restaurant is tipped to serve a variety of local dishes in Kalutara while the AVANI Kalutara Resort is not far from town offering a choice of restaurants for tasting authentic local cuisine.

3

Curries

Curries are a firm favourite across the island and in Kalutara, you find a very fragrant and spicy version mainly reserved for the seafood and vegetables. Dishes such as fresh coconut relish or sambol with hoppers and a good fish curry are some of the local favourites.

4

Deep Fried Squid

Deep fried squid is served at just about any restaurant in the town; the dish is a lovely bite and offers batter fried squid either on its own or tempered with loads of onions, leaks and chillies. It is quite the accompaniment to an evening drink and ideal side dish for a plate of steamed or fried rice.

5

Chilli Crab

This is sea crab and not the more popular lagoon crab. It is much smaller in size but cooked to such perfection that the dish is quite famous. You will find some restaurants and resorts in Kalutara specialise in a good chilli crab. So go ahead and order yourself a batch with some string-hoppers or rice and curry.

6

Rice and Curry

Rice and curry is serious business in Sri Lanka; Kalutara is no exception. A typical dish will consist of a mound of red or white rice served in the centre of the plate with 3 or 4 curries around it. Basically, these curries will consist of vegetables, a salad, meat, fish or egg and a coconut relish or piece of dry fish. Totally spicy but a burst of flavour on the palate and a must try.