How to Eat Like a Local in Sri Lanka – Be a Happy Islander
The sunny island of Sri Lanka may be small but its bio-diverse environs and vibrant mix of cultures, owing to various ethnic groups, are what makes a holiday there an unforgettable experience. In this article, you will learn about the food, influenced by each ethnicity and region, and why Sri Lankan food is highly popular. Here is a guide on how to eat like a local in Sri Lanka!
1. Hit the Coast for Seafood Delights
If you explore the commercial capital Colombo, you will be faced with a multitude of posh restaurants serving seafood delights. But these places can be pricey as they cater to an upmarket clientele. And basically, the point of exploring a tropical island nation is to be a sun-worshiper and beachcomber. Starting from the south and extending towards the east, the stretch of coastline is stunning. And all along you have plenty of opportunities to dine of the ocean’s delight. Prawns, crab, squid, and lobster cooked in a heady mix of island spices and herbs are mouth-watering delights you will hanker for long after leaving the land. For a holiday of gastronomical delights, you can choose accommodation at Sri Lanka beach hotels, especially resorts located along the south and eastern coast, as you can look forward to dining on the freshest seafood. You will find speciality restaurants like Karadiya, located at Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa, offering Sri Lankan cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are good options, with diving, snorkelling, and other excursions too on the cards.
2. Don’t Forget the Local Curries
As with seafood, the rice and curry culture of Sri Lanka is not to be missed. Here too, culture has influenced the way dishes are prepared and spices are blended. The eastern and northern coasts are extremely fascinating as you will find a delightful mix of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim cultures. The curries tend to be spicier, with seasonal vegetables making up a mix of rice and curry, eaten with one or two vegetables, meat, fish, or egg, and sides like chutneys and salsas. Fish curry and crab curry cooked to a fiery red may turn out to be overly spicy but packed with flavour. However, beach resorts in Sri Lanka, catering to foreigners, do bring down the heat a notch, while retaining the main flavours. The eastern coastal region and north having an Indian influence will also be popular for thosai, vadai, roti and vegetarian rice and curry served with fresh curd. To truly enjoy these dishes, you need to dig in like a Sri Lankan and use your hand to eat. Mind you, only use your right hand and the tip of your fingers, not rubbing food on the palm of your hand.
3. The Highlands for More Spicy Concoctions
The highlands or central hills of Sri Lanka are surprisingly cool for a tropical island. Places like Nuwara Eliya, boasting chilly weather, is even called ‘Little England’. You may want to visit the area when you can take yourself away from the exotic beach culture of Sri Lanka. Due to the cold weather, curries tend to be spicy here, but you will find the vegetables slightly different from those available in the low coastal regions. Carrots, cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, strawberries and asparagus are locally grown and included in the dishes. You will also find a good mix of cultures, with Muslim, Tamil, and Sinhala influences.
4. Ethnically Diverse Food Types in Sri Lanka
The ethnic groups of Sri Lanka are spread throughout the land, and apart from a wider percentage of Tamils living in the northern region, there is a good dilution of races across the land. Therefore, no matter where you are, you have a choice when it comes to food. Rice and curry, while common amongst all ethnic groups, will differ in preparation depending on the type of restaurant you frequent. Popular Muslim cuisine is biriyani, samosa, and a variety of mouth-watering sweets and heady drinks like sherbet mixed with ice cream.
5. Do Try a Glass of Toddy
Toddy is fermented coconut or palmyra sap. Known as raa in Sinhalese, coconut toddy is popular along the south coast while kithul raa is a favourite in the hills and north. Toddy is drunk in the mornings fresh and is a lovely slightly sweet distilled beverage sold along the coastal roads from wooden barrels or clay pots.
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