How to eat like a local in Sri Lanka

An island in the Indian Ocean Sri Lanka is a destination of choice for many visitors for its spectacular beaches, scenic landscapes and rich heritage offering a compelling holiday. Whether it is a holiday in the hill country, a beach vacation or a business trip take time to savour the Sri Lankan cuisine. With a vibrant blend of cultures, from ubiquitous rice to abundant seafood and fresh produce cooked with coconut milk and local spices discover how to enjoy Sri Lankan food just as locals do.

Introduction

The process of making Sri Lankan dishes may seem time-consuming and laborious to many from the Western world. However, on this island, the pace is a little slower and those who prepare food appreciate the importance of using fresh ingredients as against shelf stuff, such as freshly squeezed coconut milk and freshly ground spices over shelf products. This keen appreciation makes the food have a better texture and richness in taste and is healthier.

As a visitor to this land try to taste authentic Sri Lankan food rather than International Dishes, titillate your taste buds with rice and curry, hoppers, tender jack fruit curry, fish ambul thiyal (sour fish) and more.

How to enjoy all the food

Unlike in certain parts of the world, Sri Lankan food does not include insects, reptiles, dog or cat meat hence you don’t need to worry about eating any of the dishes. Most of the typical Sri Lankan food includes vegetables, green leaves, herbs, and spices.

However, certain dishes can be spicy such as meat or fish curry which includes ground red chilli, and you can request a medium or low-spiced version.

When you want to try out a different Sri Lankan dish talk to the locals, Sri Lankans are a friendly nation, and they would love to give you tips and even direct you to the best Tangalle restaurants serving that dish.

Eating with your fingers

Going around Sri Lanka you are bound to see locals eating with their fingers and note how skilful and dainty it seems. There is a difference in using one's fingers to eat, as the touch of food by your fingertips is a signal to your brain about the texture of the food enhancing your enjoyment of the same in addition to feeling the warmth of the food. Try this out and after a few occasions you will enjoy it just like locals do.

Local dishes to try

These are only a few of the must-try dishes enjoyed by the locals that you must try during your visit to Sri Lanka.

Rice and Curry – This is the staple food of Sri Lankans and is a balanced meal the locals enjoy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Along with a helping of steamed rice are 02 vegetables, lentil curry, fish, or meat. This is a definite preparation at hotels such as Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort and at restaurants and street food stalls all over the country.

Hoppers – Made with rice flour and coconut milk batter cooked in small woks resembling an upturned pancake. Both locals and visitors love the egg hopper version too with an egg cracked onto the batter as it is cooked. These are eaten with fish or meat curry and lunu miris (a mix of ground shallots and chilli seasoned with lime and salt). These are eaten for breakfast and dinner and are available at restaurants and food stalls all over the island.

String Hoppers – These are little round mounds of stringy rice flour steamed and eaten once it comes to room temperature. The accompaniments for these are sambol, (a spicy mix of grated coconut, ground chilli, shallots, and ground pepper seasoned with lime and salt) and kiri hodi, a thick gravy made with coconut milk, turmeric and spices and fish or meat curry. String hoppers are also eaten at breakfast and for dinner and are available all over the island.

Kottu Rotti – This is a comfort food enjoyed by many and eaten at all odd times. Made with strips of roti (a flatbread made with flour, oil and saltwater) mixed with chopped vegetables (carrots, leeks, tomatoes, capsicums) along with meat or seafood. You can hear kottu roti being made from far away as it is made on a hot griddle using two hand-held metal pieces. Although this is not as healthy as most Sri Lankan dishes this is quite popular.