Let's explore the Sri Lankan Street Foods culture

 

Exploring food is the best part of traveling. I believed that traveling and tasting different food are two sides of the same coin. Apparently, Best foods explained the richness of the culture. You all know, Sri Lanka is a multinational and multicultural country. Because of that, the way of cooking is different from to place on this Island.

 In addition, it is also called a pearl of the Indian Ocean. Many people things Sri Lanka cuisines are very similar to India. Both of country used so many species for their delicious foods. But the taste is extremely different. As a local, I know that Sri Lankan food culture is an amazing thing to dig in.

Let’s Start with Spices

We use tons of different spices to taste their foods. Many European country people used pepper and salt for their food. But in Asian countries, they prefer to use a big collection of spices.

Chili powder, curry powder, thermic, chili flakes, pepper, and salt are the basic ingredient we used. Those spices used in different scales for different curries.

The best example,  when we are making dhal curry. We used a little bit of chili powder, curry powder, and others. But in a Fish curry, we use a large scale of spices depends on your tolerance level. I love spicy foods those are so delicious.

Because of that, I love to travel..

Apart from that, Cinnamon is the best spice you can taste. Sri Lanka provides the best cinnamon to the world as well. That taste is so powerful. You cannot hide cinnamon taste in any dish and it also has a nice fragrance. Even you will love it or hate it. It is not every once cup of tea.

Other best spices are Cardamone, cloves, nutmeg, mace, Sweet Cumming, Cumin seeds, Fenugreek, Coriander, Gamboge, and Mustad seeds. Each of them has very unique flavors. One flavor cannot compare with others. All of those not used for every curry. Each spice has different duty to add taste, richness to the food.  Many times, those spices are used as smaller pieces, not as powder-like salt.

All of the above Spices are used in the dry version. They are plenty of fresh herbs. 

Curry leaves play a major role in Sri Lankan curries. We use it for many dishes. It is very good for health. Special it has the ability to reduce all toxic in our meal. Not only that, It so flavorful.

The next essential is pandan leaves. It gives a taste as well as fragrance to the meal.  Lemongrass, tamarind, ginger, mint leaves, Coriander leaves, garlic, onions are the herbs use commodity commonly. Actually, we can’t imagine cuisines without onions and garlic.

Here we used, two types of onion such as big onion and a small onion. The taste of those two is not the same. My mom told me, small onion is very good for coconut sambal and pickles.

All of the above herbs and spices, we use in our day-to-day life. In every kitchen in Sri Lanka, those can find. I noted some special herbs, people use for medical purposes like "Muringa, Adu, perumkayan, Kaluduru ". Those spices have unique fragrances especially good for health.

Now, you will definitely curious to know the street foods which use those spices and herbs to improve the taste.

 Let's stats with my favorites foods,

Coconut roti with chili chutney( Lunu Miris)

This street food can be found in any place around Sri Lanka. most of the time taste can be similar at any place. For this food, as ingredients used flour, salt, coconut, and water. Then we prepare a Lunu miris( chili chutney) as a souse to eat with roti. Be careful, it is super spicy but delicious. this food is most suitable for breakfast, or as a snack in a day. I really like to eat roti with plane tea. It is a mouth-watering dish. If you don't like spicy food, you can eat roti with dhal curry or potato curry.

Kottu

Kottu is a very unique dish, you only can try it in Sri Lanka. It is very tasty food with different flavors. The origin of this food is coming from Tamil people who lived in Batticaloa in Sri Lanka. However, it is very famous around the country. The main ingredient of this dish is roti flakes made with flour. then it is mix with different vegetables and spices. It can take as vegetarian, fish, chicken, pork, or any other meat with or without the cheese. Normally the price of the Kottu can be very between rs 150-1000 depending on other conditions. However, the hygiene of the vendor needs to measure before eating Kottu because this food can sick you immediately. I highly recommended try this food, you definitely fall in love with it. I really love to try Kottu at any place whenever I go around Sri Lanka.

Hoppers

Hoppers are made of rice flour. The way of preparing it is interesting. Many shops make hoppers in the evening and it is good with lunu miris. Its texture is very different from many other foods.  if you are interested, You can ask hoppers with egg, then it is called " Egg Hopper". This food has a round shape and good for kids, they may be loving it. I totally like to eat hoppers with tea. it is a perfect combination. The price of the hopper is started at Rs 10/=. yes, it is very cheap but the taste is not cheap.

String Hoppers

String hopper is totally different from the hoppers. Its texture, the taste is different. However, string hoppers are good for your breakfast. It hasn't taste without curries or coconut sambal. String hoppers can match with different curries like dhal curry, fish curry, potato curry, egg curry, chicken curry, or any. It can find any place around the country with two colors such as white or red. The making process of string hopper is interesting. It has a unique tool handle with the hand. 

Laveria

It is a similar dish to string hoppers. But it has a sweeter taste not spicy. Rice flour is the main ingredient of this dish and it uses sugar for sweetness with grated coconut. It has a cone shape and suitable for breakfast. Mainly this dish can find throughout the countrysides and give it a try it is tasty.

Wade

wade is a snack-type food that came from the Tamil culture. I like to eat wade at a beach enjoining sunset.  The Galle's Face is very famous for wade. it is made from dhal with onions, chili, and salt, deep fry by oil.  It is crispy, at the same time oily food. for an instant, it is not healthy but tasty. I like wade at with fried chilis and fresh onions. Wade can be found all around the country by street vendors.

Samosa

This is one of my favorite snacks and can find anywhere in Sri Lanka. there is a mixture inside the samosa made by mash potato, onion, chili, and some other vegetables. Most of the time it is a vegan dish but some vendors can add fish or some meats. Before eating, make sure it is vegan or not, if you don't prefer meats. The price of the samosa starts from rs 20 and can vary depending on the vendors. but it is not an expensive snack.  it can eat with or without chutney, but try to eat hot samosa to get the perfect experience.  Samosa is a deep-fried food, so it is not more healthy. 

Cutlet

This is also similar to a samosa but not the same taste. The texture of the cutlet is soft and it is nice with dipping in tomato sauce. Like samosa, it is much tasty at hot.

when talking about street foods, it is necessity know drinks as well,

Lest's delve into Sri Lankan Drinks

King CoConut

Sri Lanka is a tropical country. Therefore it has many unique fresh fruits. those are very tasty and healthy. King Coconut is my favorite. It is rich with freshness and healthiness. The color of king coconut is orange. If you find a green one, it calls "Kurumba". Those are the young coconut fruit. King coconut is a different variety, it is not a young coconut. However, both fruits are interesting but the taste is a little different. However, I really like both. After drinking juice can eat the middle part of the fruit, it is tasty and fresh. Normally the price of one is starting at rs 50/= and it can rise up to rs250/= at different places. 

King Coconut

Yong Green Coconut

Tea

Sri Lanka is home to lush green tea plantations and it is very famous around the world as Ceylon tea. If you live one-two days in the country, you can understand the what is tea culture of Sri Lanka. It is very familiar to us. Fresh tea can be found in any place in the country and it is very cheap. Normally the price is starting from Rs 30/=.  A most important tip is, In here there are two types of ways can be identified. If you ask a plain tea, you will receive tea. If you ask a tea, it will come with milk. Normally, Sri Lankan people call tea milk tea. That is the explanation of tea in here. 

Tea

Milk Tea

Herbal Drink/ Kola Kada

This drink is made of Fresh leaves. It can be different varieties depending on the type of leaves they use. Normally it mixes the juice of leaves with Coconut milk and rice. It is a hot drink and good with jaggery or sugar. It is very healthy and can find in the morning, normally vendors are selling on the road. However, its cost is depending between Rs 30-100/=.  It is very good for breakfast.

Kola Kada

Toddy

It is an alcoholic drink and can find in rural areas. This drink especially can find in Jaffna made by palm trees. Normally toddy is making using the juice which gaining from the cutting Kithul or Coconut flowers. They keep that for fermenting before using it as a drink.  

Faluda

This is also a tasty smoothie and very colorful. Normally it has a pink color and adds ice cream to enhance freshness. They use basil seeds and milk to make Faluda. For sure, Kids may be loved to this drink.

Where to eat?

 If you travel around the country, the best street foods can be found in "Hela BoJun" restaurant. this restaurant govern by the government and hygiene is good. not only the prices are really cheap but the quality is good.  those foods are making by independent Women who are living in a  relevant area. when you are buying something from them, it automatically helps their well-being. 

Galle Face

If you at Colombo go to Galle face, it is full of lots of street foods. Especially different types of Wade will sell by tons of vendors. In the evening it will be packed with locals, especially kids. It is a good sport to enjoy the sunset with street foods. Click here to know what to do in Colombo.

There are more things to do in Sri Lanka

If you have any questions about SrI Lankan Food culture, lets talk in the comment section.