From Egg Hoppers To Watalappan: Unforgettable Sri Lankan Eats

From hearty curries to refreshing drinks and unique desserts, there is something to satisfy every palate. Here are some of the top foods you can try in Sri Lanka.

Unforgettable Sri Lankan Eats (Image source: Canva)

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Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka is an island nation in South Asia that offers a vibrant and diverse culinary landscape that reflects its rich cultural heritage. From aromatic curries to unique desserts, Sri Lankan cuisine is a feast for the senses.

Offering a delightful blend of spices, textures, and flavours, the dishes reflect the island's rich culinary heritage. From hearty curries to refreshing drinks and unique desserts, there is something to satisfy every palate. So, the next time you visit Sri Lanka, be sure to embark on a culinary journey and savour these top foods.

Here are some of the top foods you can try in Sri Lanka.

Egg Hoppers:

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Traditionally eaten at breakfast, these savoury, bowl-shaped Sri Lankan pancakes are delicious at any time of the day. Found everywhere, from street food stalls to restaurant menus, they are made from a batter of fermented rice flour, coconut milk, coconut water, and a sprinkling of sugar. An egg is broken into the dish while it cooks, and it is typically enjoyed with a spicy sambol.

Gotu Kola Kanda

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This traditional, nutritious green concoction is part soup and part herbal porridge. Made from wild leafy greens, including the medicinal herbs gotu kola and hathawariya, along with rice, it is believed to aid digestion, reduce cholesterol, and boost the immune system.

Seeni Sambal

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Rice and curry are usually served with a helping of sambol, mixed into the food for an extra kick. Seeni sambal, or "sugar sambol," is a gentle, sweet-and-sour variety, offering a less overpowering alternative to its spicier counterparts.

Kottu Roti

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This popular street food is a delicious stir-fry made from leftovers. The kottu maker finely slices roti flatbread with meat or vegetables, garlic, and spices on a large iron skillet, creating a rhythmic clatter as they work.

Dhal Curry

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A traditional side dish, dhal curry is made from red lentils cooked in coconut milk with onions, green chillies, and spices. Thinner than its Indian counterpart, it is extremely flavorful and often made in a traditional clay pot.

Lamprais

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Unique to Sri Lanka, lamprais is a savoury delicacy served for Sunday lunch. The dish includes frikkadels (Dutch-style meatballs), a three-meat curry, and seeni sambol, all mixed with rice boiled in a spicy stock and wrapped in a banana leaf before being oven-baked.

Fish Ambul Thiyal

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One of the best fish curries in Sri Lanka, ambul thiyal features cubes of firm fish, usually tuna, cooked with spices and dried goraka, a tamarind-like superfruit that gives the dish its sour flavour.

Watalappan

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A popular sweet, watalappan is similar to egg custard, made with coconut milk, cardamom, nutmeg, and dark kithul jaggery (palm sugar). It is often topped with chopped nuts for a crunchy texture.