Top 5 must try Sri Lankan food

Famously known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka offers a beautiful confluence of history, culture, scenic landscapes, gorgeous beaches, and most certainly the tantalizing local cuisine – quite similar to the South Indian cuisine, yet distinctively scrumptious. So come embark on this culinary journey with us as we share the top five Sri Lankan dishes that we absolutely recommend will blow your taste buds away!

 

1. Fish Ambul Thiyal

Are you surprised that for an island country, a seafood dish tops our list of must-try local foods? The Fish Ambul Thiyal is a relatively dry curry preparation best paired with a bowl of rice, where all the spicy ingredients are simmered and cooked until the liquid reduces. The dried Goraka, which is a small local fruit is the secret ingredient that gives this curry its distinctive sour taste.

 

2. Polos

Made from two of the most widely available local fruits – jackfruit and coconut – this vegetarian curry is heartily enjoyed by all. Polos is a beautiful dry curry preparation that combines various local spices, coconut milk, and bite-sized chunks of soft boiled jackfruit leaving an explosion of flavours with every morsel.

 

3. Hoppers

Sri Lankan counterpart for pancakes, these Hoppers are made from a batter of slightly fermented rice flour, coconut milk, and a hint of sugar. It’s a theatrical process where a ladle of batter is fried in a deep wok and swirled around giving it a bowl-shaped appearance. They are more commonly eaten at breakfast along with eggs that are cooked in the wok to create an “egg in a nest” appearance.

 

4. Wambatu Moju

An absolutely sensational local delicacy and usually served with rice and curry, Wambatu Moju is an extremely juicy and flavourful Eggplant pickle. The eggplant is finely sliced, deep fried, and then caramelised with sugar, red onions, and local spices until the colour turns almost black. Take a bite of this dish and watch how the crispy eggplant and spicy flavours create a furore in your mouth.

 

5. Pol Sambol

Most commonly used as a garnish or as a side dish with almost everything, it is an inseparable part of their staple diet. A simple blend of finely grated coconut, red onions, chili powder, lime juice, salt with an addition of Maldive fish at times. If you love coconuts, then you will truly enjoy this dish and your heart will keep wanting more!

 

Happy Tripping!