Sri Lankan Breakfast Recipes: A Mouthwatering Start to Your Day

Are you tired of the same old breakfast routine? Look no further than Sri Lankan breakfast recipes for a delicious and unique start to your day. With a blend of spices and flavors, these dishes are sure to tantalize your taste buds and leave you feeling satisfied.

A Guide to Sri Lankan Breakfast Recipes

Mindset

Before diving into the recipes, it’s important to understand the mindset behind Sri Lankan cuisine. Influenced by various cultures, including Indian and Dutch, Sri Lankan food is a fusion of flavors and techniques. Breakfast is no exception, with a mix of sweet and savory dishes that reflect the country’s diverse culinary heritage.

Equipment

To prepare Sri Lankan breakfast recipes, you’ll need basic kitchen equipment such as a stove, frying pan, and mixing bowls. Some recipes may require a mortar and pestle for grinding spices, but you can also use a spice grinder or pre-ground spices for convenience.

Ingredients

Sri Lankan breakfast recipes often use a variety of spices and herbs, including cinnamon, cardamom, curry leaves, and pandan leaves. Coconut is also a staple ingredient, used in both sweet and savory dishes. Some popular Sri Lankan breakfast ingredients include:

• Hoppers: A type of pancake made with fermented rice flour and coconut milk. They can be served plain or with an egg cracked into the center.
• 
  Kiribath: A type of rice pudding made by cooking rice in coconut milk and water. It’s often served with savory dishes like sambol or curry.
• Pol Roti: A type of flatbread made with grated coconut and flour. It’s typically served with a spicy onion sambol or curry.
• Egg hoppers: Hoppers with an egg cooked into the center, creating a crispy edge and runny yolk.
• String hoppers: Thin noodles made from rice flour, often served with a coconut-based curry.
• Pittu: A cylindrical steamed cake made with ground rice and coconut.
• Coconut roti: A flatbread made with grated coconut and flour, often served with a spicy onion sambol.

Recipes

Ready to try your hand at Sri Lankan breakfast recipes? Here are a few to get you started:

Egg Hoppers

Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 green chili, finely chopped
1 tsp oil

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, and salt. Add enough water to make a smooth batter.
2. Let the batter rest for 30 minutes to an hour, until it has fermented slightly and has a sour smell.
3. Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Pour in 1/4 cup of the batter and swirl the pan to spread it out into a thin pancake.
4. Crack an egg into the center of the pancake and cover the pan with a lid. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the egg is set and the edges of the pancake are crispy.
5. Repeat with the remaining batter and eggs.
6. In a separate pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and chili and cook until softened and slightly caramelized.
7. Serve the hoppers with the onion and chili mixture on top.

Kiribath

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Rinse the rice and drain well.
2. In a saucepan, bring the rice and water to a boil over high heat.
3. Reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan with a lid. Cook the rice for about 20 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked through.
4. Remove the saucepan from heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes.
5. Add the coconut milk and salt to the rice and stir well.
6. Transfer the rice to a square baking dish and flatten it out evenly.
7. Let the kiribath cool and set for about 10 minutes.
8. Cut the kiribath into squares and serve with a savory curry or sambol.

Pol Roti

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup grated coconut
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1 green chili, finely chopped
• Water, as needed
• Oil, for cooking

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the
2. Add the onion, chili, and enough water to make a dough that is firm but pliable.
3. Divide the dough into small balls.
4. Flatten each ball into a disc about 1/4 inch thick.
5. Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add a few drops of oil to the pan.
6. Cook the pol roti for 1-2 minutes on each side, until it is lightly browned and crispy.
7. Serve the pol roti with a spicy onion sambol or curry.

Pittu

Pittu is a popular Sri Lankan breakfast dish made from steamed rice flour and grated coconut. It is often served with a spicy curry or sambol. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rice flour
• 1 cup grated coconut
• Salt, to taste
• Water, as needed
• Pittu steamer or bamboo steamer

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the rice flour, grated coconut, and salt.
2. Gradually add water to the mixture, stirring continuously, until the mixture has a moist but crumbly texture.
3. Fill the pittu steamer or bamboo steamer with alternating layers of the rice flour mixture and grated coconut, finishing with a layer of grated coconut on top.
4. Place the steamer over a pot of boiling water and steam for about 10-15 minutes, or until the pittu is cooked through.
5. Remove the pittu from the steamer and serve hot with your favorite curry or sambol.

String Hoppers

String hoppers, also known as idiyappam, are thin, noodle-like strands made from rice flour. They are often served with a spicy curry or coconut milk gravy. Here’s how to make them:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rice flour
• Water, as needed
• Salt, to taste
• String hopper press or idiyappam maker

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the rice flour and salt.
2. Gradually add water to the mixture, stirring continuously, until a dough forms.
3. Divide the dough into small balls.
4. Fill the string hopper press or idiyappam maker with the dough and press the dough through the holes onto a greased steaming tray in circular motions to form thin, noodle-like strands.
5. Steam the string hoppers for about 5-7 minutes, or until they are cooked through and slightly firm.
6. Serve the string hoppers hot with your favorite curry or coconut milk gravy.

Conclusion

Sri Lankan breakfast recipes offer a delicious and unique way to start your day. With a mix of sweet and savory dishes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. From hoppers to kiribath to pol roti, these dishes are sure to add some variety and flavor to your morning routine. So why not give them a try? Your taste buds will thank you!