Food – Popular Home Made Sri Lankan Dishes
Most Sri Lankans and Indians are familiar with common foods that are prepared with flour such as Dosa, Roti, Naan, Idly, String Hoppers, Paratha, Appa etc and Rice of different types. Let me discuss some of the most popular dishes which Sri Lankans prefer to consume on a daily basis.
Rice with Vegetable, Chicken, Egg, Beef or Fish
The most consumed food in Sri Lanka is Rice, whether it be White, Brown or Red. It is estimated Sri Lanka’s per capital rice consumption is about 100 kgs, as rice is the most preferred staple food in the country. Different varieties are produced to suit local requirements. Most Sri Lankans consume long grain white rice, short grain white rice and Par boiled red rice is consumed to a lesser extent while imported Basmati rice varieties are also consumed. However, red rice is consumed in village areas even for breakfast.
During archaeological excavations conducted in a cave belonging to the pre-historic age in the Balangoda District, it was found that Sri Lankan inhabitants began consuming rice 6000 years ago.
An ordinary meal of rice is consumed with side dishes like vegetables, chicken, mutton, beef, egg or fish. For economical reason most Sri Lankans limit their rice with a single vegetable and a meat item in their daily meal. Some prefer to have a hot chili dish they call “rice puller”!
Pictures show how rice is presented in different forms along with side-dishes.
Yellow Rice & Curry with Stuffed Capsicum or Fish fry
White Rice can be presented in various forms, such as Yellow Rice, Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng), or Buriyani mixed with chicken, beef, mutton or egg.
Coconut or Pol Roti with Onion Sambol or Sauce
Some prefer a simple breakfast of Pol Roti with King Coconut water
One of the most important meals for Sri Lankans is Coconut Roti, made of wheat flour and scraped coconut. It keeps a manual workers fit for a long time hence very popular among hard working Tea Estate workers. The meal can be prepared in relatively short time, can be consumed with coconut or onion Sambol (a dish mixed with coconut, chopped onion, chili powder and salt) can be easily packed into a small container or packet to be carried with them to work.
Buriyani or Biriyani (Fish, Chicken, Mutton, Vegetable or Beef Biriyani)
Buriyani is one of the top special dishes imported from India, we can see it at weddings, Muslim religious festivals, special functions, and on a daily basis. Every large restaurant or eatery have their own brand of Buriyani. The main ingredients for this dish are long grain Samba rice, chicken/mutton/beef, onions, tomato, and a host of spices to give that special taste for the dish.
Puttu or Pittu
This is a popular breakfast in Sri Lanka and Southern parts of India. Puttu means “portioned” in Tamil. It is made in steamed or bamboo cylinders or metal vessels with two sections. It can be made with ground and roasted rice or wheat flour, sometimes mixed with cooked rice and scraped coconut. The mixture is inserted into the upper cylinder or pot and the lower pot is used for boiling water. The mixture is cooked by steam coming from the boiling water. The dish is served with fish or chicken gravy or Kadala (chick pea) curry.
Roasted Fish with Garnish
A popular dish in areas where fish is available in abundance.
Slow fried Tuna fish (Ambul Thial)
A very popular item among the Sinhala population, usually served as a side-dish along with rice.
Beef or Chicken Sate
Malay Satay is a popular dish among Sri Lankans. Boiled beef is marinated with lime juice, lemon grass, soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin seed and pepper. It is then roasted in a BBQ style and served in small pieces of sticks.
Jackfruit Curry
Half ripe Jackfruit can be cooked as a curry, which is popular mostly among Sri Lanka’s rural population.
Sour Salad
Prepared with fresh vegetables including chopped cabbage leaves, lettuce, chopped onion, green chili and salt mixed with curd.
Some like it raw!
Hot Red Chili with Raw Green Beans & Gotukola Leaves
Egg Omelette is extensively for breakfast
Sadly, I could not cover many more mouth-watering dishes I would want to, due lack of opportunity to be at the right place at the right time!
A breakfast with Pol Roti, Stuffed String Hoppers and Puttu, with a variety of side-dishes to go!
This is called “Aappa” or Appam or Hoppers
Appam (Aappa or Hoppers) is a type thin pancake shaped like a bowl, is a very popular breakfast item. It is prepared with a fermented batter composed of rice flour and coconut milk popular in Sri Lanka.
Sometimes, Noodles is included in a breakfast meal
A fully laid out Breakfast & lunch table
(Extra Pictures: Courtesy Ms. S. Harim)