To properly discover a destination, you must first discover its cuisine. The gastronomy of a country says a lot about its traditions, culture and know-how! This is great news for lovers of food and knowledge, as Sri Lanka is the perfect destination to awaken your taste buds to new experiences. Spices, fruits and vegetables, cereals, or even meat, the country simply abounds in tasty products that propel us on a culinary journey. The combination of these South Asian ingredients results in unique and delicious recipes that are unique to Sri Lankan cuisine. Here are the 10 must-try dishes to get a proper taste of the country.

1. Rice and curry

Curry is a South Asian dish that is very popular across every table in Sri Lanka. The signature of this dish is its sauce, cooked with many spices and herbs, usually including fresh or dried chilli. Its popularity stems from its diversity, as there are many variations of rice and curry depending on the regions and traditions where it is cooked. In Sri Lanka, you can find spicy curries made using fish, chicken or beef, but also mutton or goat. No shortage of choice allowing you to discover all new flavours.

2. The Kottu roti

Eating on the go does not mean "eating without pleasure". The proof is in the pudding with the Kottu roti, which is one of the most popular street-food dishes in the country. The recipe is very similar to that of fried noodles, but the noodles are replaced by thin pieces of bread. This is a very nutritious dish, with many colourful vegetables and lots of spices to add some body to the recipe. The most classic version is based on chicken, but there are many variations (with shrimp, pork, vegan, etc.). There is something for every taste and, above all, for every desire.

3. The Pol Roti

An essential ingredient in the Kottu roti recipe, Pol Roti is, for the Sri Lankans, the equivalent of bread that accompanies meals. Round and flat in shape, it is ideal for accompanying sauce-based dishes such as curries. This bread has the particularity of being made using coconut with the addition of various condiments, such as onions or green chillies. It is easy to make, but the recipe takes a long time, as the dough has to rest for up to eight hours.

4. The ulundu vadai

This dish comes from South India and is a big hit in Sri Lanka. The ulundu vadai is a spicy lentil fritter. This fritter can be enjoyed at any time of the day, even at breakfast, to give you the energy you need to start your day. Highly nutritious, it can also be made using chickpeas.  

5. The polos

Polos is an entirely vegetarian type of curry. Made from the fruit of the jack fruit tree, this very fragrant dish is prepared with onions and garlic to which mustard seeds, ginger, and turmeric are added. A real flavour explosion! A meatless alternative to rice & curry, it can be found all year round on Sri Lankan tables. This dish is suitable for many diets, as it is vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free. Now you have no excuse not to give it a try! 

6. The pol sambol

Originating in Sri Lanka, pol sambol is usually served as an accompaniment to a curry. It is a mixture of grated coconut, rice and various spices. It is sometimes sprinkled with lime to add freshness to the original dish. One of the advantages of pol sambol is that it can be very spicy or mild, depending on the condiments used: shallots, dried chillies, garlic, coriander, etc. Everyone can therefore try pol sambol, from the most adventurous gourmets to the most delicate palates who might not be quite so fond of very spicy food. 

7. The lamprais

This dish was born between the 17th and 18th centuries and is a legacy of the Dutch colonisation of Sri Lanka. This extremely delicious dish consists of a three-meat curry (beef, pork and chicken), meatballs and boiled rice. The whole thing is cooked in a large banana leaf. This method of cooking, similar to stewing, allows all the flavours to penetrate and enhances the flavour of the dish. There is also a version with a hard-boiled egg, although this is not part of the traditional recipe.

8. The puttu

This is a dish that can be served either savoury or sweet. Puttu is eaten as a dessert or just enjoyed as a snack. This is a rice flour roll mixed with grated coconut and steamed. And for an even more tasty version, it can be garnished with sweet or savoury preparations, as desired. Its cylindrical shape makes it easy and convenient to eat, making it a very popular street-food dish in Sri Lanka. 

9. The pani walalu

Sri Lankans are very fond of fritters, whether savoury, such as ulundu vadai, or sweet, as in this case with pani walalu. This dessert is a doughnut dough, worked to give it an original shape, which is then fried and dipped in sugar syrup. Quite hearty, this dessert is very popular in the South Asian country.

10. The wattalapam

While coconut is used extensively as a side dish for savoury dishes, Sri Lankans also use it as an ingredient for desserts. Wattalapam is a coconut pudding spiced with nutmeg and grated vanilla bean. In terms of consistency, this dessert is very much like a dense egg custard, and the texture is melt-in-the-mouth. To make it even more visually appetizing, wattalapam is often decorated with a sprinkling of crushed nuts.