How to Eat Like a Local in Sri Lanka - You Guide to Wining and Dining on Local Delicacies on a Trip to Sri Lanka
Although most travelers head to Sri Lanka to experience its stunning beaches and explore the heritage sites, Sri Lankan cuisine is reason enough to holiday in the country. Described by Lonely Planet as the home base of the world's most "criminally underrated" cuisine, the island nation is a foodie's dream come true in South Asia. From hitting the street food stands to digging into seasonal sweetmeats, here are some tips on wining and dining your way through Sri Lanka.
1. Start with the Snacks
As in any food culture, Sri Lanka's culinary scene is also rife with delicious and even healthy snacks that are usually sold on the streets of Colombo and other big cities. Sri Lankan snacks not only include fried nuts and cassava chips but also wholesome breakfast meals and short eat for those on the go. Some of the top snacks to savor on a food tour of the island includes Kimbula Buns and Fish buns while Isso Vadai and samosas are also ubiquitous in city areas. Jam Paan and other baked goodies are often available in small kiosks and food carts where one can even grab a Chinese roll or a baked bun for a few rupees.
2. Experience a Local Buffet
There's no better way to experience the wide variety of Sri Lankan curries and rice dishes on offer than by enjoying a buffet lunch or dinner at a local hotel. Those based at Hotel Sudu Araliya and similar rests will find that the lunch buffet and dinner spreads encompass a wide variety of local curries. Vegetarians and vegans will also marvel at the sheer range of meat-free dishes as everything from Pol Sambol and Jackfruit curry is served in almost every buffet. Cashew curry and pennywort salad are other favorites among local diners who don't shy away from piling their plates high with several types of rice (yellow rice, fried rice, red rice) in one go. Some of the top places to visit in Polonnaruwa include humble local restaurants that serve up an array of pickles, seafood, and rice meals for visitors.
3. Discover Regional Dishes
Various districts and corners of the paradise island specialise in different dishes and a style of cooking that is unique to that area. Those who venture up north to Jaffna, for instance, can order Jaffna Crab Curry or Modakam and Brinjal and Drumstick Curry. Travellers enjoying a beach holiday in Negombo, Hikkaduwa or the southern capital Galle can savour seafood barbeques, prawn curry, and rotis topped off with cheese or a serving of Lunu Miris. Nuwara Eliya and Kandy, on the other hand, are considered the perfect location to sample Ceylon tea as these areas belong to Sri Lanka's Tea Country.
4. Special Treats for Celebrations
Travelers who are lucky enough to be vacationing on the island during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year or other red letter days and cultural festivals can also sample dishes and treats that are prepared during that time of year. Sinhala and Tamil New Year sweetmeats include Oil Cakes or Kevum, Aggala, Aluva, Mung Aluwa, and Kokkis. Eid Mubarak, in contrast, is when Watalappam is made and distributed to loved ones of Sri Lankan Muslim community members.
5. Fusion Cuisine in Sri Lanka
There's more to Sri Lanka's colonial legacy than the iconic structures that the Dutch, Portuguese and English left behind and most of it can be found in Sri Lankan cuisine. Some of the most delicious fusion dishes in the local canon include Dutch Breudher, coconut cake and Christmas cake while Lamprais is a fascinating rice meal that's baked in a banana leaf during preparation.
