The teardrop island is hot on the travel map. With free visa on arrival for Indian passport holders and the rupee going a long way, we see Sri Lanka becoming the IT place for weekend getaways. As you start planning your trip to this gorgeous country—from its beaches to the hills, forests to forts, here’s a list of our favourites to try.
Sri Lanka’s version of South Indian appams, hoppers are typically made with rice flour, coconut milk, and spices. And even though the word “hopper” does come from the word “appam,” the flavour profile is anything but alike. The egg hoppers are the most popular variations, with sweet and savoury toppings to choose from – ham, feta, rocket and more.
If Sri Lankan cuisine had a showstopper, it would be this humble dish. In fact, there’s a restaurant in London named Hoppers which just goes to show how far a dish can truly travel.
Cardamom spiced coconut custard. Need we say more? This simple dish is made using common ingredients found in any kitchen like – coconut milk, jaggery powder, cashews, eggs, and warm spices like cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and star anise (optional). The custard pudding is traditionally made in Sri Lankan homes on special occasions and celebrations.
Our Expert Tip – The more holes there are in the watalappan, the better!
A trip to Sri Lanka is incomplete without some drool-worthy gelatos that come in hyperlocal vegan flavours like avocado, mangosteen, coconut cashew, and more. With a gelato in hand, walk on Arugambay beach and soak in the languid sun for the perfect vibe-check.
Local Sri Lankan brands like Isle of Gelato make their add-ins from scratch too! Try their pistachio flavour and thank us later.
A popular Sri Lankan snack, fried cashews are to them what “chakna” is to us. From dive bars to the chicest hotels, you’ll find them everywhere. The best part is the kick of chilli and garlic that hits you, with the lasting taste of curry leaves on your palate.
A definite winner like this, you can’t help but get a few packets back home!
The word “Kottu” is derived from the Tamil word “koththu” which means “to chop.” Originated in the Tamil regions of Sri Lanka, kottu roti is a Sri Lankan classic dish that spells comfort on a plate. Made from ribbon-chopped wheat parotta, onions, chillies, eggs, and the choice of meat or vegetables you want, this is a must-try.
A stomach-filling, savoury spicy dish that tickles the palate in all the right ways, just a plate of this is enough before you go about town!
A dish that captures Sri Lanka’s essence on a plate, rice curry meal is a reflection of the country’s diverse cultural heritage. A typical rice curry meal has – a heaping mount of rice, mild coconut-based curry (dhal or parippu), fish or meat curry (spiced in coconut milk), vegetables tempered in coconut curry like eggplant, mallung (a lightly cooked raw salad) made with spinach, coconut, and lime.
The dish also has add-ons like pol sambol, pickle, chutney, and lastly, some fried papadum. Yum, right?
A breakfast special, this noodle-nest like dish is a close cousin of our idiyappams, served with a mild coconut gravy in the mornings. If you’re having these rice strings for dinner, they serve it with flavourful curry options – chicken, fish, or beef, making it a hearty meal.
A traditional Sri Lankan dish, Kiri Bhaat is mainly prepared on auspicious events. Parboiled rice cooked in coconut milk, the dish is served with Katta Sambol, a traditional spicy condiment made with – onions, dried red chillies, curry leaves, red chilli powder, salt and lime.
A great snack to pair with your cocktails, the sweet carby taste of yam with just the right kick from the spicy sambol is the perfect “chakna” for your night out. Made with caramelised onions, red chilli flakes, cinnamon, curry leaves, and tamarind juice, the spicy sambol is widely used in Sri Lankan cuisine as a condiment, add-on, or accompaniment.
We advise caution with the sambol, as it can be addictive!
Friends of our own masala vadas, Parippu is another hot favourite accompaniment for the arrack-forward drinks you’ll find at most bars. These crunchy and spicy vadas are typically made with toor dal, onions, green chillies, ginger, curry leaves, dried red chillies, salt, and chilli flakes.
A versatile dish, they’re a perfect tea-time snack too!
Now that we’ve got the food covered, it’s time to pack your bags and get going!
