Joanna James
A drop of paradise in the Indian Ocean, the island country of Sri Lanka is chock full of fascination that never fails to leave its many visitors amazed. Among all things fascinating about the South Asian nation, its authentic cuisine and mouth-watering local dishes are absolutely unmissable.
Undeniably the most staple dish of Sri Lanka, the island nationals surely cannot go a day without a plate of flavourful rice and curry. The primary ingredient of the dish is a relatively large slab of white-hued hot, fluffy rice accompanied by 3 to 5 different curries, consisting of a few varieties of vegetables and ordinarily one meat variety. This truly authentic local classic is a typical home-cooked dish but can also be found on restaurant menus throughout the country.
The national dish of Sri Lanka and a highly relished local delicacy, milk rice comes to life often during special occasions and the highly festive season of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The aptly named milk rice — or kiribath, as it is known locally, where kiri is Sinhalese for milk and bath is for rice — is a rather sweet combination of rice and milk which is accompanied by a side of lunumiris, another authentic condiment which is a spicy chilli paste like no other.
Anyone craving a steaming hot plate of Kottu, the island nation of Sri Lanka is the only place on planet earth that could sate your yearning. The classic local delicacy is favoured by locals and tourists alike and is an absolutely unmissable dish in your exploration of Sri Lankan cuisine. Kottu or kottu roti uses chopped or diced roti, local flatbread, as the main ingredient which is then stir-fried with scrambled egg, onions, chillies, spices, and a whole host of vegetables and a meat of your choice, usually fish, chicken, or beef.
Kokis is another local delicacy that comes to life during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year and other blissful special occasions. The star-shaped or round sweet consists of a batter made with a combination of rice flour, coconut milk and eggs, which is then coated around different decorative moulds and deep-fried in oil until it gets its crispy texture. Those craving a bite of kokis don't have to until the local new year as many cafes and coffee shops throughout the country have them in their showcases, awaiting your indulgence.
Inspired by the island nation's minority Dutch Burgher population, lamprais is undoubtedly one of the most complex dishes one could find in Sri Lanka. Lamprais has a well-established set of elements to the dish, which consists of short-grained white rice, eggplant pickle, seeni sambol (onion relish), ash plantain curry, a boiled egg and topped by a cutlet. Lamprais can be found being served at Mirissa restaurants, including the likes offered by Sri Sharavi Beach Villas & Spa, as well as eateries in other parts of the country.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
