Joanna James
Sri Lanka is an island full of surprises. From exploring the biodiverse environs to discovering the exotic wildlife, the tiny nation offers a range of pleasant surprises. Food is a top attraction in Sri Lanka, and in this list, we explore the best traditional dishes to try in southern Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is famous for its selection of fresh crab and prawn dishes, and one of the most popular is the traditional Sri Lankan crab curry. The preferred choice for this dish is the larger mud crab found in saltwater lagoons, which offers more flavour and meat compared to the smaller sea crabs. Mud crabs will grow to impressive sizes, with some weighing over 2 kg. The Sri Lankan crab curry that's popular in the south is spicy, packed with a rich taste and aroma. The crabs are cooked in a thick gravy of coconut milk that boils down to a glossy golden colour, treating your palate to a burst of flavours. Some of the best places to order crab curry in the south are the popular Unawatuna restaurants located on the coast. Unawatuna is a popular coastal town that is also home to top beach hotels in Sri Lanka, like Araliya Beach Resort Unawatuna.
Better known as simply roti, godamba roti is a popular snack in the south. It's a type of stretchy roti made with flour and oil that can be turned into mouthwatering treats. Restaurants in Unawatuna offer a variety of this simple roti stuffed with savoury or sweet fillings. You can explore the delights of cheese roti, spicy chicken roti, roti with banana, chocolate or strawberry roti, and others. Another alternative is to eat godamba roti with your favourite curry—crab curry is a pretty amazing option, as are prawn, fish, chicken, or even dhal.
This is a staple in Sri Lanka, with the accompanying curries changing according to region or season. In the south, locals enjoy rice with spicy curries like fish, cuttlefish, or prawns. About two to three vegetables are added to the mix, with pumpkin, bitter gourd, loofah, and eggplant being popular vegetables found in the south.
Malu ambulthiyal is a famous dish in Sri Lanka and is rather popular in the south. Malu, meaning fish in Sinhala, consists of a nice chunky variety of fish like tuna or jack, which is cooked with pepper, garcinia, lime and other ingredients, lending the dish its signature tang. Traditionally prepared in clay pots that incorporate a smoky flavour into the fish, ambulthiyal is a good accompaniment to rice, coconut roti or even a good old portion of local bread better known as thathi paan.
Popular across the island, kottu roti is a fast food that's in high demand. A favoured night snack, kottu roti is made by dicing godamba roti with eggs, vegetables, and meat, which can be anything from pork to chicken and even seafood. Watching your kottu roti being made is a part of the treat as the ingredients are chopped with two cleaver-like utensils on a hot griddle. It's an art mastered by the kottu maker, who manages to deliver a rhythmic tap-tapping as he expertly chops up everything, to mix together a flavour-packed dish.
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.
