Helix Digi Labs
Roti. No trip to Sri Lanka is complete without tasting – at least once, but preferably as many times as you can – the amazing dish that is Roti. For the uninitiated, Roti is an unleavened flatbread that is as versatile as any food you can think of. You can have it with any curry you encounter in Sri Lanka or you can have it with warm melting butter.
But if you’re wondering where you can sample this wonderful food, let me give you a taste of some of the offerings at one of the best restaurants in Hikkaduwa.
You can a variety of Roti dishes, served in either traditional Sri Lankan manner or prepared with a modern fusion bent at Citrus Hikkaduwa!
Egg Roti is a common street food here in Sri Lanka and it’s usually served with spicy chicken curry and gravy on the side. But for a truly delectable twist on the street Roti variation, try the Tempered Pork and Egg Roti with the pork cooked to a special southern recipe sandwiched between the delicately handmade layers of the Egg Roti. It’s a classic combo made all the more memorable thanks to the incomparable blend of rich flavours.
If your palette is looking forward to seeing an Italian-Sri Lankan twist of fusion, look no further. Is there a more classic flavour combination than cheese and tomato? Of course not. So you can only imagine the level to which sandwiching layers of fresh tomatoes in between a wrapping of cheese and egg Roti would elevate the flavours you know and love. This is one combination you simply cannot miss.
Do you swear by the sweet and salty combination that is a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Well now you can taste that with Roti! With marmalade made with fresh fruit preserves and the nuttiest peanut butter you’ve ever tasted, this Roti combination is truly a masterpiece in marrying a beloved Western flavour profile with an equally beloved Sri Lankan dish. What’s more, Roti is a wonderful breakfast dish so when you find yourself in Sri Lanka craving a familiar taste for breakfast but still wanting to dive into new cuisine, try a Marmalade and Peanut Butter Roti.
Did you know that Sri Lanka is one of the top four cinnamon producing countries in the world? In fact, we have our very own species of Cinnamon on the island that is native to Sri Lanka and is considered by culinary experts around the world to be of superior quality to cinnamon grown anywhere else. So naturally, a visit to Sri Lanka needs to include ample tasting of our homegrown cinnamon. This magical recipe which also includes fresh pineapple, to give you even more of those tropical feels, just goes to show how versatile Roti is.
A more classic Sri Lankan Roti dish you cannot find elsewhere. With freshly grated coconut folded into the Roti, Kochchi and Lunu Miris are the go-to’s when it comes to eating Roti the local way. Kochchi, also known as Bird’s Eye Chili or Thai Chili in English, is a small yet very hot chili pepper used extensively in traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. Combine it with Lunu Miris, a mouth-watering Sambal paste made of ground up chili pepper, shallots, Maldive fish, salt, black pepper and lime juice and you have the most perfect Roti dish imaginable. Word of warning though: go easy on the Lunu Miris, it is as spicy a condiment as any.
It is no mystery that Sri Lanka’s coastline boasts some spectacular and mouth-watering seafood. Therefore, it’s only natural that seafood be combined with Roti to make one amazing dish. Tempered to sheer perfection, this is one dish you do not want to miss out. Nothing gives you those beach vibes better than digging into some delicious seafood and it only gets better with the delicate layers of Roti sandwiching said seafood.
