The tantalizing cuisine of Sri Lanka is an exotic blend of traditional ingredients and spices, expertly cooked to perfection. The ancient marine trade movements and several years of colonial rule have enriched its culinary scene. As you explore the hill country, don’t fail to try these unique comfort foods, which are quite popular.

01.    Kottu Roti

This is one of Sri Lanka’s favourite street food items and a must-try dish served at most Ella hotels. It is made with bite-sized pieces of roti (a flat bread), which is stir-fried on a hot griddle. Chopped vegetables, like carrots, spring onions, tomatoes, cooked meat (usually chicken, beef, or mutton), egg, and spices like chilli flakes, pepper, and a dribble of sauces are added. What makes the dish rather interesting for visitors is the rhythmic clang of the metal cleavers used by the kottu chef. Vegetarian, egg, and cheese kottu can be ordered over the counter. This filling and heartwarming dish is good as a snack, for lunch, or for dinner.

02.    Hoppers

Also called Appam, these bowl-shaped crepes are made with fermented rice flour and creamy coconut milk in small, heated metal woks. The resulting bowl-shaped hopper has a crispy outer edge and a soft, spongy centre. Several of them are generally eaten for breakfast, dinner, or as a snack with lunu miris (a sambol made with chopped shallots, chili flakes, pepper, and salt and seasoned with a dash of lime juice) and fish or chicken curry. A popular variation of hoppers is the egg hopper, which is made by cracking an egg onto the spongy centre when the hopper is halfway done. This comfort food, whether plain hoppers or egg hoppers, is served at many restaurants and even at luxury properties like 98 Acres Resort and Spa, in Ella.

03.    Milk Rice

Also known as Kiri Bath, this quintessential dish made with traditional rice and creamy coconut milk is loved by Sri Lankans of all ages and is equally loved by visitors. Washed rice is cooked on a slow fire till the rice becomes soft. Thick coconut milk and salt are added thereafter and cooked further until the rice becomes a soft, creamy mass. This is spread on a flat platter and cut into squares. These pieces of Milk Rice are relished with lunu miris and fish or chicken curry.

AntanO, Kiribath (milk rice), CC BY-SA 4.0

04.    Bread with Dhal and Sambol

Slices of freshly made bread with a tempting Dhal Curry (lentils made into a curry with spices and coconut milk), along with a spicy pol sambol (grated coconut pounded with shallots, chilli flakes, pepper, salt, and a dash of lime added to it), is a fine comfort food for puckish cold days in the hills. This ubiquitous threesome can be enjoyed anytime during the day with a piping hot cup of Sri Lankan tea.

05.    Rice and Curry

Rice and curry are Sri Lanka’s staple foods and are a must-have meal in most Sri Lankan homes. Visitors spending a few days on the island feel nostalgic about this wholesome food when they remember this tiny island in the Indian Ocean. Steamed rice is usually eaten with dhal curry, a green leaf mallung (adding grated coconut), fish or meat, and one or two other vegetables like brinjals or beans. This is especially fragrant and mouthwatering when served on a banana leaf and eaten with one’s fingers.