Joanna James
Sri Lanka is a tiny little island that boasts a long list of deliciously unique delicacies. If you are a foodie of any sort below are 10 of the best dishes that must not be missed
Kiribath is basically coconut rice that is cooked in thick coconut milk until the right consistency is achieved. It has a sticky texture and this combined with a mix of onions, chilli flakes and lime feels so heavenly on the taste-buds. A traditional breakfast speciality Kiribath is a must try in Sri Lanka.
Although not particularly traditional, this dish is considered very much Sri Lankan. Kottu is made out of shredded Rotti tempered with vegetables, eggs and sometimes meat. Found in every local joint around the city you can grab some Kottu any time of the day.
The heart of Coconutty treats is probably the Pol Sambol which is a basic mixture of coconut, onions, lime and chilli flakes. That's all it is but it works wonders with bread, rotti, string hoppers, rice and what not.
The Appa is a symbolic Sri Lankan dish that works equally well for dinner as it does for breakfast. Although they have a unique shape, hoppers are actually like sour dough pancakes with plenty of coconut milk added to the batter. Drop an egg to make egg hoppers or for a sweet version replace the egg with melted jaggery or sweetened coconut milk.
Ambul Thiyal literally translates to sour fish curry and is prepared by slow cooking fish in rich spices in a dry manner. Thanks to being cooked in a clay pot this dish has an authentically Sri Lankan taste to it.
Pol Rotti means coconut rotti. The magic ingredient here is coconut which when added to normal rotti dough makes coconut rotti. From the texture to the taste, the pol rotti is heavenly.
Polos curry is actually cooked tender Jack fruit and in fact it looks and feels a lot like a meat curry. Rich in flavour, polos is perfectly vegetarian and is a real treat for those who love strong flavours.
Achcharu is yet another favourite when it comes to street food. Mix up your favourite sour fruits with some salt, chilli powder and sugar and there you have it; Achcharu. Pineapple Achcharu is a common favourite snackand then there is the mango Achcharu, woodapple Achcharu and even Veralu Achcharu.
Lankans in general love to snack any time of the day. For this purpose Vades come immensely handy. There are several types of Vades of which the Isso Vade, Ulundu Vade and Parippu Vade are the most popular.
If you want to satisfy the sweet tooth in you, try some Watalappan. A mixture of jaggery, coconut milk and eggs this is a treat that would tantalize any taste-bud. If you are looking for the best restaurant in Sri Lanka to try this treat, the dining options at the Blue Water Club Suites can be considered.
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