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Food/recipes

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Original poster

Sri Lankan food

62 replies

Cocoisablessing · 09/12/2022 20:32

Interested to know if anyone has tried Sri Lankan food and if so, what are your thoughts on the cuisine.

OP posts:
MilkshakesBringAllTheCoosToTheYard · 09/12/2022 21:59

Thanks lads, I'll give the dried leaves a go then and won't be put off.

@Bluesycamore we're neighbours, there isn't... there is a food truck though that goes to The Pitt and Neighbourgood, there was talk of them opening up in St James Centre maybe?

SueTwosNipples · 09/12/2022 21:59

I love Sri Lankan food and would love a recommendation for a Central or North London cafe or restaurant, and an easy cook book.
i’d also like to find red rice.

Orangesatsuma · 09/12/2022 22:00

Love it!

SueTwosNipples · 09/12/2022 22:00

You can buy frozen curry leaves in loads of different places now.

Original poster
Cocoisablessing · 09/12/2022 22:00

Tarka dal…20 mins in the hob with whole garlic to reduce the gas of the dal and some turmeric…fried onions with spices on top…coconut milk to make it creamy…👍

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ethelredonagoodday · 09/12/2022 22:01

Have been to Sri Lanka and loved it, but also now have a v good friend who is of SL descent. So we have lots of tasty food at his house too!

Chattycathydoll · 09/12/2022 22:01

Cocoisablessing · 09/12/2022 22:00

Tarka dal…20 mins in the hob with whole garlic to reduce the gas of the dal and some turmeric…fried onions with spices on top…coconut milk to make it creamy…👍

This was one of my DD’s first foods! So good and easy.

JulesJules · 09/12/2022 22:02

I've only had it in a restaurant, The Coconut Tree in Oxford, but really loved it. Loads of delicious veggie options for me too.

septembersapphire7 · 09/12/2022 22:03

I’m Sri Lankan too and absolutely love the cuisine! My brother and his family are vegan and it’s one of the easiest to cook for everyone as so many different curries are made with coconut milk and taste delicious.

I live in suffolk and have struggled without my local sambal express with 50strimg hoppers and sothi for £5.50 but my parents are in London so always worth making the journey to stock up 😋

I also love Sri Lankan rich cake/wedding cake as well as thothol/payassam as desserts and my favourite fruit there is the mangosteen 🥰

Original poster
Cocoisablessing · 09/12/2022 22:03

Some restaurants to try if u like Sri Lankan food…Sambol kitchen in South Harrow and Virundhu in South Ruislip…

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Stokey · 09/12/2022 22:05

Egg hoppers with sambol - so good!

Dinneronmybfpillow · 09/12/2022 22:07

A friend of a friend makes Sri Lankan home curry kits and they are AMAZING. You can add/omit the spice level to suit.

Original poster
Cocoisablessing · 09/12/2022 22:07

Delicious…but recipe is pretty simple…yeast and rice flour…

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SueTwosNipples · 09/12/2022 22:18

Thank you for the restaurant reccs Coco

OchonAgusOchonOh · 09/12/2022 22:21

So does anyone have a dahl recipe up try?

zeddybrek · 09/12/2022 22:23

Massively under rated. Went to Sri Lanka just before COVID and the food was incredible. Fresh, tasty and nothing how I had imagined. In fact the pizza I have ever had was in Sri Lanka! Their spices and take on it was fabulous. Fresh fish, fresh coconut, lentils done well. Hooper's in London is our go to Sri Lankan when we miss the food.

Original poster
Cocoisablessing · 09/12/2022 22:30

Hi @zeddybrek can I suggest you try some restaurants in South Harrow or Tooting when you are next in London. Will definitely be more authentic and easy on the budget 😃 central London seems to be massively overpriced

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MorningPlatypus · 09/12/2022 22:32

I went to Sri Lanka some years ago. I ate lots of amazing food and the pineapple curry was one of the best things I've ever eaten

tenbob · 09/12/2022 22:33

We are in SW London and get takeaways from Tooting - they are amazing
There also used to be a Sri Lankan thali place in Balham but I think it closed down, sadly

Hoppers is now on Deliveroo editions so accessible in a lot of London

and for a special meal, Paradise in soho is… paradise! High end Sri Lankan food in a small restaurant with great cocktails

tenbob · 09/12/2022 22:36

This is a good list…
www.tootingmama.com/best-indian-and-sri-lankan-restuarants-in-tooting/

Original poster
Cocoisablessing · 09/12/2022 22:36

@tenbob never heard of Paradise. Thanks for the recommendation.

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gogohmm · 09/12/2022 22:40

@Chattycathydoll

My DD's have eaten dal since babies, and buttered roti (Indian style admittedly).

It's an easy, cheap and nutritious meal, I add lightly pickled or sautéed veg to increase the veg content

Original poster
Cocoisablessing · 09/12/2022 22:43

Love all the recommendations! I feel like Hoppers is a bit over priced and not authentic Sri Lankan as run by the people who run Gymkhana. I could be wrong but when a hopper and Sambol is over 6 quid it seems too pricey,

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Chattycathydoll · 09/12/2022 22:48

gogohmm · 09/12/2022 22:40

@Chattycathydoll

My DD's have eaten dal since babies, and buttered roti (Indian style admittedly).

It's an easy, cheap and nutritious meal, I add lightly pickled or sautéed veg to increase the veg content

Ah, mine is 7 now and saying she ‘doesn’t like it’. Influenced by her friends at her very white village school sadly- I grew up near Croydon, so many different cultures & learned different recipes helping my friends’ mothers cook, so when she was tiny gave her lots of different types of food to develop her tastes. I have a feeling she will grow out of the peer pressure to eat beige food but for now it’s sad!

CrinchyGrinchy · 09/12/2022 23:12

I think Sri Lankan cuisine will be the next up and coming food trend. I'm seeing a lot more of it. M&S even has (had) a Sri Lankan prawn dish they sold alongside the main Indian range.