Flavours of Sri Lanka - Rice & Curries

Most culinary techniques of Sri Lanka revolve around preparing ‘Rice and Curries’ as this is wildly believed to be the country’s national meal. Even though served separately, the traditional way to enjoy the meal by serving  curries around a lavishly served portion of rice and mixing couriers with rice.  This provides a remarkable sensation of flavours, making rice and curries very unique to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka was an Agricultural society for thousands of years, and rice (which grows in paddy fields) was the main stable food for many Sri Lankans. It is belived to be over 30% of the total cultivation in Sri Lanka is rice. There were 400 different varieties of Rice were grown during the ancient times, but now limited only to very few.  Main Rice varieties which are famous among Sri Lankans include Samba, Keeri Samba,Red Kakulu,  Red Nadu, Red Samba and Nadu

Main ingredients in many Sri Lankan curries include coconut milk, combination of species, flavour intensifiers such as curry leaves or pandan leaves, native vegetables,  salads, fish or meat, and eggs. Getting the milk out of coconut is also an exhaustive time-consuming process. First, the Coconut (peeled ones) has to be cracked open and coconut flesh need to be scraped out using a special apparatus. Afterwards, this scraped coconut need to be mixed (or blended)  to extract the white coconut milk, which can be drained out as a liquid. The leftover white residue is mixed with local fine-cut salad (Mallunm), to make an additional side dish or with chili-flakes, lime & salt to make Pol Sambol. Unique distinctions between North Indian cuisines and Sri Lankan Curries are the use of coconut milk and adding a wide range of spices with completely different flavours.

The foundation of Sri Lankan cuisine is traditional spices. A wide range of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, dried chillies, turmeric, pepper, fennel seeds, fenugreek, cloves, cumin, coriander, Maldive fish, lime juice, garlic and ginger a few to name with. Most of the dried spices are roasted and ground.  These spices are used in different quantities to curries. Some spices only go with specific type of curries such as meat or fish. Sri Lankan traditional culinary experts are masters of mixing these species to generate amazing flavours which will be fit for a King.

The texture and colours of curries make much difference to Sri Lankan cuisine. Normally, Sri Lankan like colourful meals, specially when rice and curries are served. Various natural herbs and vegetables, such as turmeric, red chillies, beetroot, and green salads are used to prepare colourful curries for a meal.

Side dishes are a compulsory part of rice & curry meal. These side dishes include Coconut Sambols, Seeni Sambol (made out of onions), pickles, papadams, fried chillies, fried dried fish or sprats and fried eggs.

Our Sri Lankan ‘Rice & Curry’  Maestro at Royal Indigo Villa

Sri Lankan Rice & Curry preparation is just like conducting an orchestra with numerous music instruments, notes and musicians. To get the exact flavours by mixing correct species is very complex process. A Chef can be a master of Sri Lankan culinary techniques only through years of hard work, experience and passion. Our resident Chef - the culinary Maestro at Royal Indigo Villa, has excelled in preparing authentic Sri Lankan cuisine and always looking forward to preparing traditional and rare Sri Lankan cuisine to our guests – so that they will taste the  ‘real flavours of Sri Lanka’.  Preparing authentic Rice & Curries of Sri Lanka is a vital part of our hospitality, which makes Royal Indigo Villa one of the leading luxury Villas in Sri Lanka.

We are a Luxury Beachfront Villa in exclusive Thalpe beach at Galle, southern coast of Sri Lanka. Our Villa is ideal for a private blissful holiday with your family and friends. We offer 4 rooms, which can be booked separately or as the entire villa (for up to 10 Guests). Our Resident Chef, Villa Manager and trained Staff are caring, very friendly and provide personalised services to our Guests.

For Booking and Special Rates, please contact us on :

☎️ +61418 332 609 (Mobile / WhatsApp)  📧 royalindigovilla@gmail.com  🌐 www.royalindigovilla.com