8 Best Local Dishes You Must Try In Sri Lanka

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1. Kottu Roti

One of Sri Lanka’s most famous street foods, Kottu Roti is a stir-fry made with chopped roti, vegetables, eggs, and your choice of meat or seafood.

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2. Hoppers (Appa)

Hoppers are bowl-shaped pancakes made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk, usually eaten with spicy sambols, chutneys, or curries.

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3. String Hoppers (Idiyappam)

These are delicate steamed rice noodles, served in circular nests. String hoppers are typically enjoyed with dhal curry, coconut sambol, or fish curry.

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4. Pol Sambol

Not exactly a dish, but it is a quintessential Sri Lankan condiment made from freshly grated coconut, red chilli powder, lime juice, and onions.

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5. Sri Lankan Crab Curry

Sri Lanka’s coastal location means fresh seafood is everywhere. It’s a must-try for seafood lovers craving bold flavours.

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6. Lamprais

Lamprais is a Dutch-influenced dish featuring rice cooked in stock with meat, a mixed vegetable curry, and a frikkadel (meatball), all wrapped in a banana leaf and baked.

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7. Fish Ambul Thiyal

This dry, tangy fish curry uses goraka to give it a distinct sharpness balanced by spices.

Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Credits: Wikimedia Commons

8. Watalappam

A traditional Sri Lankan dessert, Watalappam is a steamed coconut custard pudding flavoured with jaggery, cardamom, and cloves.

Sri Lankan cuisine is all about bold flavours, contrasting textures, and tradition.

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