Rice recipes : January 2015

Foods in Sri Lanka

Foods in Sri Lanka can be hot or very mild or can be combination being very much a question of individual preference. Sri Lankan food is unique for their Culture. Many Sinhala food items are derived from Chena cultivation. Sri Lankan cuisine plays a vital role in the islanders’ life from the most auspicious Sinhala/ Hindu New Year to normal day-to-day practices. They make milk rice and special sweets with coconut milk, floor and Honey at cultural festivals. It is recognized as one of the sixty- four types of art, "Siu Seta kalawa". The curries come in many verities of colors and flavors blended in Sri Lankan Hot Spices has a great ayurvedic value when used in curries.

Most of the Sri Lankans eat vegetables. With a large community of farmers the Rice and curry is the main food in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka curries are known for their fiery hot spicy flavors and coconut milk is very distinct feature of Sri Lankan cuisine that different regions of country specialize in different types of dishes. The specialty in Sri Lankan food is that same food is differently made in different regions. Dishes from the North region of Sri Lanka have distinct south Indian flavors. Dishes from the South region of Sri Lanka can be Spicy, Hot or Mild. The meals of the southern region of Sri Lanka are known for their variety and fishing village though the coastal strip. Ambulthiyal a unique spicy fish preparation with thick gamboges "Goraka" paste. Certain types of fish Balaya , Kelawalla are native to Southern seas. "Lunu dehi" (lime pickle) and jaadi (Pikled fish) are food items made from methods of preserving since they could dry them in sun during rainless days. Western region of Sri Lanka has foreign influence much more than other regions. Many items made using wheat flour always had made Sri Lankan dishes foreign. Since upper western coastal region is dry, fish is dried with salt as a preservative. This is called "Karawala" (dry fish).

Spices such as Cloves, Cardamoms, nutmeg and pepper are found in abundance throughout Kandy and Matale District in Central region of Sri Lanka. Eastern province constitutes three major ethnic groups. Sinhala, Muslim and Tamil, Chena cultivation, Game meat from nearby forests and dry Weather have influenced many food items. Staple diet of Sri Lanka is 'Rice and curry' the word ‘curry’ convering a multitude of dishes which are made according to different methods of cooking from Soups, meat, Sea food, Lentils, Vegetables, Sambols, Mallums, Phies to Achcharus. Curd and Treacle and Sweetmeats made from Rice flour and palm treacle, jiggery along with various types of fruits are additions to the meal as the dessert. The Palm, Coconut, Kithul, Palmyra from which the treacle is made will vary accordingly. Sri Lankans also like several juicy sweetmeats like Kavum, kokis, Halape, Thalaguli and Wattalapam etc. Sri Lankans also like to have drinks like tea and coffee

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

DEVILLED KANKUN

~~Ingredients~~

1 lb. Kankun leaves 1 Onion sliced 1-2 cloves garlic chopped Salt to taste Soy Sauce 1 teaspoon crushed dried red chilli 4 dessert spn cooking oil a sprig of curry leaves 1 dessert spn Maldive fish(optional)

Method Pick, clean and wash kankun leaves. Heat oil till very hot in pan and add the sliced onions, chopped garlic, curry leaves and chillie powder. Fry till onions are light brown and then add the kankun leaves and crushed chillies. Add salt and soy sauce and toss 5-10 minutes and take off fire. You could also add roasted cashews to make the dish more flavorful

Monday, January 26, 2015

EGGPLANT (BRINJAL) PICKLE

Ingredients 1 lbs Eggplant Cooking oil for frying 10 to 15 small red onions (shallots) About 10 Green Chillies 2 dessert spoons mustard seeds 8 dessert spoons vinegar (approx.) Salt to taste 2 tspn raw chillie powder 1 tspn sugar 1/2 tspn tumeric powder

Method Soak the mustard seeds in a little vinegar for about 30 minutes. While waiting, wash and slice the eggplant in rounds (optionally half circles). Rub tumeric powder and a little salt. Deep fry in cooking oil. Remove to a colander and let it cool. Cut the red onions in length wise. Grind the soaked mustard seeds into a fine paste. Mix all the ingredients together. Cover up in a bowl for a short while and it will be ready to eat. This pickle keeps well for a week or two in the refrigerator