Sri Lankan Kottu Roti
Sri Lankan food is a vibrant and aromatic cuisine that reflects the country's rich cultural heritage and diverse influences. The cuisine features a variety of flavors and spices, including cinnamon, turmeric, and cardamom, which give Sri Lankan dishes a unique taste. Rice and curry are the staple food in Sri Lanka, with curries made from vegetables, meat, or seafood, and served with rice, coconut sambol, and papadum.
One of the most famous Sri Lankan dishes is the spicy and flavorsome Kottu, which is made by frying chopped roti bread with vegetables, egg, and meat or seafood, and served with a spicy curry sauce. Other popular dishes include hoppers, which are bowl-shaped pancakes made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk, and deviled chicken, which is a spicy and tangy chicken dish cooked with onions and peppers. Sri Lanka is also known for its seafood, with a variety of fish and shellfish available in coastal areas. Overall, Sri Lankan cuisine is a culinary delight that offers a fusion of spices, flavors, and textures, and is a must-try for any food enthusiast.
Sri Lankan Kottu Roti (also known as Kottu Parotta or Koththu Roti) is a popular street food in Sri Lanka made with shredded roti bread, vegetables, and a choice of meat or eggs.
Here's a recipe to make it at home:
- 4-5 roti bread (paratha, naan or any similar flatbread)
- 1/2 cup of chopped vegetables (cabbage, carrots, leeks, onions, bell peppers)
- 1/2 cup of cooked meat (chicken, beef, mutton or seafood)
- 2-3 eggs
- 1 tbsp of grated ginger and garlic
- 2 green chillies, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp of curry powder
- 1 tbsp of soy sauce
- 1 tbsp of tomato sauce
- Salt to taste
- Oil for frying
- Cut the roti bread into small pieces and place them in a food processor. Pulse until the bread is shredded into small pieces.
- In a frying pan or wok, heat up a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped vegetables, ginger, garlic, and green chillies. Stir fry for a couple of minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
- Add the cooked meat and stir fry for another minute.
- Push the vegetables and meat to the side of the pan and crack the eggs into the other side. Scramble the eggs and mix everything together.
- Add the shredded roti bread to the pan and mix well with the vegetables and eggs.
- Add curry powder, soy sauce, tomato sauce and salt. Mix everything together and cook for a few more minutes until everything is well combined.
- Keep stirring the mixture until the roti bread is slightly crispy and has absorbed all the flavours from the vegetables and meat.
- Serve hot and garnish with chopped coriander leaves, lime wedges, and chilli flakes if desired.
Enjoy your delicious Sri Lankan Kottu Roti!
Some other Sri Lankan cuisines to try
Sri Lankan cuisine is a delicious and diverse blend of flavors and spices, influenced by the country's long history and its location in the Indian Ocean. The cuisine features a variety of curries, rice dishes, seafood, and tropical fruits.
One of the most popular Sri Lankan dishes is rice and curry, which consists of a plate of rice accompanied by several curries, including vegetable, meat, and seafood options. The curries are made with a variety of spices, including cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cinnamon, which give them their unique and aromatic flavors.
Another popular Sri Lankan dish is hoppers, which are thin, crispy pancakes made from rice flour and coconut milk. They are often served with a variety of toppings, including eggs, vegetables, and chutneys.
Sri Lanka is also known for its seafood dishes, which include prawn curries, fish cutlets, and crab curry. The country's proximity to the ocean means that fresh seafood is readily available, and it is often cooked with a variety of spices and coconut milk.
Sri Lanka also has a variety of sweets and desserts, including the popular milk toffee, a sweet made from condensed milk and sugar. Other popular sweets include coconut treacle, which is made from coconut sap, and kiribath, a traditional Sri Lankan dessert made from rice and coconut milk.
Overall, Sri Lankan cuisine is a delicious and unique blend of flavors, spices, and tropical ingredients that reflect the country's rich culture and history.