Joanna James
Sri Lanka is a gourmet heaven. Due to colonisation and trade, numerous cultures have influenced its cuisine over the years. You get a variety of dishes influenced by Dutch, English, Portuguese, Indian, and Malay flavours making the island a delightful spot to engage in some gastronomic ventures.
Drinking a glass of kola kanda is a great way to get a nutritional intake each morning. This traditional herbal mixture is believed to improve immunity, aid in digestion, and lower cholesterol. It is generally served in a bowl or glass and was part of the Sri Lankan breakfast menu from ancient times. It's also supposed to have a cooling effect on the body, which makes it an ideal item to include in your meals during those steamy monsoon days.
If you are seeking a filling meal which also tantalizes your taste buds, try lamprais. This mouthwatering meal has Dutch origins and is a dish which is made with rice cooked in meat stock and then steam-cooked inside a banana leaf which is packed with meat, vegetables and sambol chilli sauce.
You get sweet as well as savoury versions of this dish. This is a staple of any traditional Sri Lankan menu and is closely related to the pancake found in Europe. You make a mixture using rice flour and coconut milk. Then fry it in a wok for a few minutes and serve it with a spicy chilli relish.
This is a unique and popular curry you simply need to try during your visit to Sri Lanka. It is made with young, green jackfruit. The dish is made by cutting the jackfruit into small pieces and cooking them until they are tender. Spices like roasted curry powder, chilli powder, turmeric, mustard seeds, pandan leaves and curry leaves add flavour to this dish along with coconut milk. You let it simmer so that all the flavours are soaked to the cubes. It is a common delicacy that you will be able to locate at most restaurants which offer exotic Sri Lankan meals.
Since Sri Lanka is encircled by the Indian Ocean, seafood dishes abound, particularly in coastal regions. One of the most popular dishes that you can taste in most restaurants in Kalutara is fish ambul thiyal. This dish is typically made with tuna that has been blended with dried garcinia cambogia or Malabar tamarind and a variety of spices like cinnamon, garlic, black pepper, turmeric, pandan and curry leaves. This delicacy has a distinct flavour of its own and goes well with rice.
Kiribath is a unique rice variety which is typical to Sri Lanka. It is generally known as a festive meal since it is made mostly during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year and auspicious occasions. You boil the rice and add coconut milk with salt to make this dish. It is rich in creaminess and is sticky too. Therefore, you can cut it easily into squares and serve it along with condiments like chilli relish and ambul thiyal.
Watalappan is known as a traditional Sri Lankan dessert. This delightfully smooth and velvety baked cardamom-spiced coconut custard is enhanced with raw jaggery, giving it a distinct sweet taste. It is a favourite among locals and foreigners and is a perfect way to finish a hearty meal.
If you ever feel the need to return to your roots, seek some spots which offer international cuisine. A property like Avani Kalutara Resort houses a variety of restaurants which boast international dishes as well as some popular Asian meals. You will be sure to find some familiar food items there.
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.
