World Flavors Cookbook

Sri Lanka Recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is a vibrant and spicy island tradition, shaped by its position on the spice route and its rich multi-ethnic heritage. It is famous for its fiery curries, coconut-rich dishes, and unique street food like Kottu Roti. The use of native spices like cinnamon, black pepper, and curry leaves defines its bold and aromatic soul.

Recipes from Sri Lanka

• Kottu Roti

  A popular Sri Lankan street food made from shredded Godamba roti, vegetables, egg, meat, and spices, all chopped and mixed on a hot griddle.

• Hoppers (Appam)

  Bowl-shaped fermented pancakes made from rice flour and coconut milk, with crispy edges and a soft, spongy center.

• Lamprais

  A Dutch Burgher-influenced dish consisting of rice, meat curry, seeni sambol, and other sides, all wrapped in a banana leaf and baked.

• Pol Roti (Coconut Flatbread)

  A rustic flatbread made with wheat flour and freshly scraped coconut, often served with a spicy sambol.

• Kiribath (Milk Rice)

  Traditional Sri Lankan rice cooked with coconut milk, served as a celebratory dish for auspicious occasions.

• Fish Ambul Thiyal (Sour Fish Curry)

  A dry, sour fish curry unique to Sri Lanka, preserved with goraka (black tamarind).

• Watalappan (Coconut Custard)

  A rich, spiced steamed custard made with coconut milk, jaggery, and eggs, flavored with cardamom and nutmeg.

• String Hoppers (Idiyappam)

  Steamed rice noodle nests served with coconut milk gravy and spicy sambol.

• Parippu (Dhal Curry)

  A creamy and mild red lentil curry cooked with coconut milk, an essential accompaniment to almost any meal.

• Pol Sambol (Coconut Sambol)

  A fiery, fresh coconut relish made with red chilies, onions, and lime juice.

• Gotu Kola Sambol (Pennywort Salad)

  A refreshing salad of finely shredded pennywort leaves, coconut, and lime.

• Kukul Mas Curry (Chicken Curry)

  A robust and spicy chicken curry cooked with a plethora of Sri Lankan spices and coconut milk.

• Jaffna Crab Curry

  A legendary spicy crab curry from the north of Sri Lanka, flavored with murunga (moringa) leaves.

• Egg Hoppers (Biththara Appa)

  A variation of the standard hopper where an egg is cooked into the center of the pancake.

• Seeni Sambol (Onion Relish)

  A sweet and spicy caramelized onion relish, an essential companion to hoppers and string hoppers.

• Lunu Miris (Chili Paste)

  A basic but potent chili and onion paste, traditionally ground on a grinding stone.

• Ala Hodi (Potato Curry)

  A mild and creamy potato curry cooked in coconut milk, perfect for breakfast.

• Beetroot Curry

  A vibrant, deep red curry of shredded beetroot, both sweet and savory.

• Jackfruit Curry (Polos Curry)

  A hearty and meaty curry made from young green jackfruit, slow-cooked until tender.

• Cashew Curry (Kaju Maluwa)

  A luxurious and creamy curry made with whole raw cashews and green peas.

• Devilled Sweet and Sour Fish

  A spicy, tangy Sri Lankan stir-fry with fish, bell peppers, and tomatoes.

• Sri Lankan Omelette

  A savory omelette packed with green chilies, onions, and black pepper.

• Isso Wade (Shrimp Wade)

  Deep-fried lentil patties topped with whole crispy shrimp, a famous beach snack.

• Kokis

  Crispy, rosette-shaped deep-fried snacks made for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

• Kavum (Oil Cake)

  A traditional deep-fried sweet cake made from rice flour and kithul treacle, with a characteristic bump in the center.

• Bibikkan (Coconut Cake)

  A dark, moist cake made from semolina, coconut, and treacle, traditionally served for the New Year.

• Ceylon Tea

  World-famous black tea from the highlands of Sri Lanka, served strong with milk and sugar.

• Faluda

  A colorful, sweet cold beverage made with rose syrup, basil seeds, and ice cream.

• Curd and Treacle

  A simple and traditional dessert of creamy buffalo curd drizzled with dark kitul treacle.

• Wood Apple Juice

  A unique, thick and tangy beverage made from the pulp of the native wood apple fruit.

• Ulundhu Wade

  Savory, donut-shaped fried lentil snacks made from black gram.

• Kiri Aluwa (Milk Toffee)

  Sweet, fudge-like milk toffees flavored with cardamom.

• Pani Walalu (Honey Rings)

  Deep-fried rings of lentil batter soaked in thick treacle.

• Mun Kavum

  Diamond-shaped sweet treats made from green gram and rice flour.

• Asmi

  A spectacular, web-like fried sweetmeat drizzled with dark treacle.