7 Dishes That Will Make You Want to Visit Sri Lanka – Underrated cuisine

A plate of rice and curry is a staple in Sri Lanka, and a lot of locals have rice and curry for lunch and sometimes even breakfast or dinner. There is a variety of different curries to choose from, so prepare to be overwhelmed with choices! The best part about Sri Lankan cuisine is that it is naturally vegan/ vegetarian in most instances; therefore, if you'd like to avoid animal meat or products, you're in the right place! You're sure to get used to a scrumptious plate of rice and curry, even when you travel to Kandy or other cities.

Koththu is everyone's favourite street food! A crispy roti called 'godamba roti' is deep fried and chopped, after which vegetables and spicy chicken curry are added and mixed together. The unique factor about Koththu is the manner in which it is prepared – you'll hear the rhythmic clinks of the metal hitting the cooking griddle. Koththu tends to be quite spicy, but if you request something a little less spicy, you're sure to be accommodated.

Another delicacy for the books, lamprais is going to linger in your mind long after you're eaten the last grain! This amazing dish was introduced to the island by the Dutch Burgher population and is believed to have roots in the Indonesian dish Lemper. The rice is boiled in stock, and the curries (usually a protein, ash plantain with aubergine, seeni sambol and frikadels) are wrapped in a banana leaf and baked in an oven. The double cooking is what makes this dish so special.

Hoppers are loved by locals and foreigners alike. Fermented rice flour, coconut milk, salt and sugar are used to prepare the batter, which is then cooked in a small wok and evened out. Sometimes, an egg is added to the middle. Hoppers are often eaten with onion sambol and chicken curry.

Pol sambol (or coconut relish) is usually an accompaniment but can be easily found across the country due to its delicious flavours! Red onions, dried chillies, lime juice, Maldive fish and salt together with grated coconut make up this much-loved delicacy. You can have pol sambol with coconut roti, paratha, bread and even rice! When browsing through blogs such as Kandy Escapes for your next destination, keep this accompaniment in mind to try.

If you enjoy seafood, then Sri Lanka is the place to go! As an Island nation, Sri Lanka is gifted with plenty of tasty seafood options such as crabs and shrimp. Sri Lankan crab curry is made using grated coconut, coconut milk, curry leaves, ginger, shallot, cinnamon, turmeric, and other spices.

If you possess a sweet tooth, chocolate biscuit pudding is one dessert you'll come to love. This dessert includes layers of biscuits soaked in fresh milk, covered from top to bottom in rich, creamy chocolate icing. This dish is meant to be eaten cold. You'll be going for seconds without a doubt!