Flavours of Sri Lanka, from your kitchen!

What other things can you do while being confined in your home, other than staying glued to the TV and taking mini trips to the refrigerator and back to the couch? Don’t you just wish that you were on a beautiful tropical island, indulging yourself with a cocktail by the beach and tasting some authentic paradise cuisine? I was there at one point too, but then I thought to myself, what if I could bring in some of that flavours to my kitchen, and guess what? After some research, I tried out some recipes from Sri Lanka. So, I thought of sharing them with you!

For Sri Lankans food is everything, and the essential ingredient is the spices. So, before we get into the recipes, we’ll get to know about the essential spices used in Sri Lankan cuisine. Spices promote flavours, colours and fragrance of food. If the spices are used in the correct quantity and blend, spices can do magic for even the most ordinary food, transforming it into fragrant and sumptuous meals. Here are some interesting points when using spices:

When a blend of the proper spices are used in a dish, it will create a refreshing aroma and flavour.
Not using too much flavour can boost the aroma and spiciness.
Heating spices in oils or fats can amplify their fragrance and flavour.
Fresh spices smell and taste better than dry or processed ones.

Spices in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has always been quite famous for the authenticity of its food, and the locals have mastered the secrets of spices for years. Most of the spices are locally grown, and Sri Lanka has been an epicentre of the spices throughout history.

Curry Leaves

The Curry Leaves Tree has fragrant leaves which are famous for enhancing fragrance & spicing up curries.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a deep orangish-yellow powder. Gives a slightly bitter and peppery flavour with earthy undertones and adds colour to food.

Cloves

Cloves are used to add depth to meats, curries and marinades.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is often used to spice up chocolates, deserts and beverages but also for alcohol flavouring and medicine, and is used for vegetable & meat curries in Sri Lanka.

Cardamom

Cardamom is used as a cooking spice as well as flavouring tea, coffee and desserts.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a culinary herb which as a subtle citrus flavour mainly used in fish curries.

Nutmeg and Mace

Nutmeg is the seed and mace is the reddish netlike covering surrounding the seed. Nutmeg and mace are used to flavour many sweet dishes and many savoury dishes.

Ginger

Ginger is used as a spice for food, flavouring for beverages.

Alright, now let’s get cooking!!!

Sri Lankan meals usually consist of rice served with sides of vegetables, meat curry and side-dishes include pickles, chutneys and sambals. Here are three savory dishes that would be a perfect combo with rice or flatbreads and a dessert.

Maalu Ambulthiyal (Sour fish)

2 lbs Fish (Halibet, Salmon or Tuna)
10-15 pieces Garcinia
1 1/2 tbs Salt
1 1/2 tbs ground black Pepper
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1 sprig Curry Leaves
1-2 pieces Pandan
2 pieces Cinnamon
2 cloves Garlic (crushed)
1/2 tsp roasted Curry powder
1 cup of water

Directions

Wash and cut the fish into 15-20 pieces. Place the garcinia pieces in a pan, add a little water to cover and simmer for about 5-10 minutes. Add salt, pepper, chilli powder, Tumeric, curry powder to the fish pieces and mix well (until all the pieces are well coated). Drain the garcinia pieces and crush into a coarse paste. Mix the paste with the drained water and add to the fish, mix well. Arrange the fish in a shallow pan and pour the liquid over the pieces. Wash the mixing bowl with 1 cup water and pour over the fish. Swirl the pan to coat the pieces with the liquid. Add the curry leaves, pandan, cinnamon & crushed garlic. Cook over slow heat until the fish is done. For a completely dry dish, transfer the fish and thick gravy into an ovenproof container and leave it in a warm oven until completely dry.

Pumpkin Curry

450g (1 lb) pumpkin

2 tablespoons desiccated coconut

5 cloves garlic

a few curry leaves

½ medium-sized onion

1 teaspoonful coriander powder

½ teaspoonful cumin powder

1/4 teaspoonful turmeric

1/4 teaspoonful black mustard seed

1 teaspoonful oil

salt to taste

28g (1 oz) creamed coconut

1 cup hot water

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