What to Eat in Kalutara, Sri Lanka – Tantalising Treats for the Food Lover

A great dish with which to commence your experience of local Kalutara foods would be the distinctive fish ambul thiyal or sour fish curry which can be considered a traditional Sri Lankan culinary creation. Although you will have the chance to savour an array of different curries during your visit to Kalutara, there is no doubt that fish ambul thiyal would be a local highlight. This dish is most often made using tuna; during the preparation, chunks of tuna are blended along with a selection of spices and then slowly cooked until the curry dries out.

Another very popular and genuinely Sri Lankan dish would be the much-loved local chicken curry. To prepare this hearty dish, a variety of spices are added to create the curry's strong flavour. The selection of spices includes curry powder, turmeric, chilli powder and several other traditional condiments. When preparing this dish, the succulent chicken is first soaked in coconut oil after which it is stewed with various spices. Chicken curry is typically served accompanied by rice. You will find that the spices enhance and add to the flavour of the chicken in this dish.

Your sampling of Kalutara foods would be incomplete without trying out the ubiquitous hoppers which is another typical Sri Lankan food. This frequently consumed dish is made using rice flour that has been fermented and coconut milk. Hoppers are cooked in special round pans which gives them their distinctive shape, with the edges being crispy and the centre fluffy and soft. Many Sri Lankans consume hoppers for breakfast and dinner, along with traditional local accompaniments. Different variations of hoppers such as egg hoppers and treacle hoppers will also be available.

Another tantalising food that you will have the opportunity to taste in Kalutara would be the zesty wambatu moju or eggplant pickle. This side dish that often accompanies a meal of rice and curry is a unique preparation that the locals can't do without. Its main ingredient is eggplant and it is made by initially deep frying the preparation and then allowing it to caramelize, creating a strong sharp taste. A 'Safe and Secure' certified accommodation choice to consider which also features Kalutara restaurants where you could enjoy eggplant moju and other Sri Lankan dishes would be Anantara Kalutara Resort.

A not-to-be-missed culinary experience in Kalutara would be enjoying some delectable watalappan. It happens to be one of the most popular Sri Lankan desserts, served at restaurants, homes and during festive occasions. It may be described as a creamy pudding strongly flavoured with the local jaggery and enhanced by several elements such as vanilla, cardamom and nutmeg. You will find that a portion of watalappan would be a wonderful way to round off a traditional hearty Sri Lankan meal in Kalutara!