As more and more travellers flock to Sri Lanka each year for its pristine, unspoiled environments, the country's food is also getting some much-deserved attention. This South Asian island nation has an incredible culinary heritage, with a wide variety of curries, breads, and flavour-packed relishes. Here are some ideas to get started with Sri Lankan recipes at home.
Sri Lankan cuisine: South Asia's hidden island gem
Many people make the mistake of thinking that Sri Lankan food is the same as Indian cuisine. In fact, it's distinctly different - although many dishes do indeed look like they could fit in an Indian recipe collection. Sri Lankan cuisine involves a lot of coconut milk and almost no dairy, and is often said to be spicier than Indian food! Powerful, fresh green chillies are used in most dishes.
Sri Lanka is an island, so fish and seafood are commonly used as protein sources. Chicken is also popular, but many locals - the majority of whom are Buddhists - prefer to avoid beef and pork. Meat-free recipes are also incredibly common, making Sri Lankan food a great choice for vegetarians and vegans.
Easy Sri Lankan recipes to try at home
One of the joys of Sri Lankan food is that it involves a lot of one-pot recipes - the lazy cook's best friend. Simple curries are often cooked in a single pot, and many can be happily left simmering for a long time while you get on with other things. Vegetarian curries tend to use hearty veggies that will hold their shape when cooked, like pumpkin, butternut squash, or potatoes. Lentils and pulses are also common, like this Sri Lankan spiced coconut lentils curry.
Start the day with Sri Lankan dishes
Sri Lankans don't have toast for breakfast. Instead, they begin the day with hoppers, a kind of local pancake that's made from fermented rice flour. Hoppers are formed into the shape of a bowl and served filled with eggs, or as an accompaniment to curries. You could even have them as a sweet dish, served with yoghurt and palm syrup.
Essential ingredients for Sri Lankan kitchens
You don't need to rush out and splurge on specialist ingredients to get started with Sri Lankan cooking. Instead, start by trying some Sri Lankan dishes in your next HelloFresh food box. Many ingredients will be familiar to you from other Asian recipes. Some of the most common include:
- Coconut in all its forms. Coconut milk, coconut oil, and fresh coconut are all essential for Sri Lankan recipes.
- Chilli peppers, both fresh and dried.
- Tamarind. Thick and sour, it adds a sour flavour to curries.
- Cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka and is considered the best in the world. It is used in both sweet and savoury dishes.
- Spices like turmeric, cardamom, cloves, cumin, and coriander.
- Pandan leaf. This aromatic herb, also common in South-East Asia, is used to add flavour to curries and rice dishes.
- Maldive fish. Definitely an acquired taste, this is dried, smoked, and shredded fish. Use it in small quantities, as it's powerful stuff!
The best Sri Lankan food to serve for a party
A Sri Lankan meal is never simple. Instead, it's considered normal to serve a mound of plain, steamed rice and a number of side dishes, so guests can choose their favourites and mix and match. These side dishes are usually called curries, although they may not be what you think of as curry.
Sri Lankan cuisine is light on meat; usually, just one fish, seafood, or chicken option is served. This Sri Lankan barramundi is a good example, making use of the bounties of the Indian Ocean. Other side dishes are vegetarian, like this Sri Lankan potato & cauliflower dhal.
Traditionally, Sri Lankans eat with their hands - but you may prefer a spoon and fork!
Sri Lankan Food FAQs
What is typical Sri Lankan food?
Most meals in Sri Lanka centre around rice and curry - but they're often more complex than you might imagine. A main rice dish is usually served with a variety of curries, vegetable dishes, and sambals or relishes, so diners can mix and match for their own enjoyment. Flatbreads are also often served to mop up the juices from curries.
Is Sri Lankan food different from Indian food?
Yes. Sri Lankan food is similar to Indian food, but it tends to rely far more heavily on coconut milk and fresh green chillies. Dairy products, which are particularly common in northern India, are rarely used in Sri Lanka.
What is Sri Lanka's national dish?
Rice & curry is considered Sri Lanka's national dish. In fact, it's a number of dishes served together: a mound of steamed rice in the middle of the plate with a range of side dishes, which are called curries. A normal meal might include some kind of chicken or fish curry, several vegetable curries, a dhal, and other accompaniments like salad or sambal.
Is Sri Lankan food spicy?
Yes. Traditional Sri Lankan food is very spicy, but you can tone that down if you make it at home. Many Sri Lankan recipes include coconut milk, which can have a cooling effect and make dishes milder.
What is a typical Sri Lankan breakfast?
Sri Lankans like a carb-heavy breakfast. They tend to eat a lot of hoppers, which are pancakes made from fermented rice flour and cooked in the shape of a bowl. Hoppers might be served with a steamed egg in the middle for a protein-packed start to the day.