Asia · Traditional

Sri Lankan cuisine

Coconut curries, rice, and tropical fruits.

Explore recipes Build a Sri Lankan menu Wine pairings
Food history

Why Sri Lankan cuisine is worth exploring

Sri Lankan food tells the story of geography, trade, agriculture and family cooking. The cuisine has been shaped by the ingredients people could grow, preserve, carry and share, as well as by markets, festivals, migration and regional identity.

Why it is famous

Sri Lankan cuisine is famous for dishes that feel strongly connected to place: everyday family recipes, celebration food, regional specialities and ingredients that give the cooking its recognisable character.

Regional food story

Sri Lankan cuisine is not one single style. Treat the country page as a gateway into regional dishes, local ingredients, family recipes and occasion-led cooking.

Cook by course

Sri Lankan recipes

Start with a starter, choose a main, then finish with a dessert to build a complete country-inspired menu.

Starters

Sri Lankan starters

Fish Cutlets

Fish Cutlets

Fish Cutlets is a traditional Sri Lankan starter built around bright appetising flavours, hand-held text…

Starter 50 mins
Isso Wade

Isso Wade

Isso Wade is a traditional Sri Lankan starter built around bright appetising flavours, hand-held texture…

Starter 50 mins
Pol Roti with Lunu Miris

Pol Roti with Lunu Miris

Pol Roti with Lunu Miris is a traditional Sri Lankan starter built around bright appetising flavours, ha…

Starter 50 mins
Main courses

Sri Lankan main courses

Fish Ambul Thiyal

Fish Ambul Thiyal

Fish Ambul Thiyal is a traditional Sri Lankan main built around coastal freshness, citrus, spice and car…

Main 55 mins
Jackfruit Curry

Jackfruit Curry

Jackfruit Curry is a traditional Sri Lankan main built around coastal freshness, citrus, spice and caref…

Main 55 mins
Parippu Dal Curry

Parippu Dal Curry

Parippu Dal Curry is a traditional Sri Lankan main built around legumes, vegetables, pulses and the pati…

Main 1 hr 5 mins
Polos Curry

Polos Curry

Polos Curry is a traditional Sri Lankan main built around legumes, vegetables, pulses and the patient se…

Main 1 hr 5 mins
Hoppers with Egg Curry

Hoppers with Egg Curry

Hoppers with Egg Curry is a traditional Sri Lankan main built around slow-cooked meat, deep seasoning an…

Main 1 hr 50 mins
Kottu Roti

Kottu Roti

Kottu Roti is a traditional Sri Lankan main built around slow-cooked meat, deep seasoning and the genero…

Main 1 hr 50 mins
Lamprais

Lamprais

Lamprais is a traditional Sri Lankan main built around slow-cooked meat, deep seasoning and the generous…

Main 1 hr 50 mins
Sri Lankan Chicken Curry

Sri Lankan Chicken Curry

Sri Lankan Chicken Curry is a traditional Sri Lankan main built around bone-in poultry, aromatic sauce a…

Main 1 hr 50 mins
Sri Lankan Chilli Beef with Jaggery

Sri Lankan Chilli Beef with Jaggery

Sri Lankan chilli beef with jaggery is a dark, sticky, fiery beef dish balancing roasted curry spice, vi…

Main 1 hr 50 mins
Desserts

Sri Lankan desserts

Kiri Pani

Kiri Pani

Kiri Pani is a traditional Sri Lankan dessert built around sweetness, texture, festival memory and the l…

Dessert 1 hr 10 mins
Kokis

Kokis

Kokis is a traditional Sri Lankan dessert built around sweetness, texture, festival memory and the local…

Dessert 1 hr 10 mins
Watalappam

Watalappam

Watalappam is a traditional Sri Lankan dessert built around sweetness, texture, festival memory and the…

Dessert 1 hr 10 mins
Wine and drink pairings

What to drink with Sri Lankan food

When pairing wine with Sri Lankan food, match the structure of the dish first: fresh whites for seafood and herbs, medium reds for tomato, spice or roast meat, sparkling wines for fried or salty starters, and sweet or fortified wines for desserts.

Beaujolais / Gamay
Red

Beaujolais / Gamay

Juicy light red with cherry, raspberry and low tannin. Excellent slightly chilled with charcuterie, poultry, pâté, saus…

Grape: Gamay Region: Beaujolais, Loire, Switzerland
Chianti / Sangiovese
Red

Chianti / Sangiovese

Savoury, high-acid Italian red with cherry, dried herbs and firm but food-friendly tannins. Built for tomato, olive oil…

Grape: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino Region: Tuscany, Umbria, Emilia-Romagna
Côtes du Rhône / GSM Blend
Red

Côtes du Rhône / GSM Blend

Southern Rhône-style blend with dark fruit, herbs, pepper and moderate tannin. Reliable with stews, roast meat, beans a…

Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre Region: Rhône, Languedoc, Australia
Douro Red
Red

Douro Red

Structured Portuguese red with dark fruit, spice and firm tannin. Excellent with Francesinha, roast pork, beef, smoky d…

Grape: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Alicant… Region: Douro Valley, Dão, Alentejo
Rioja / Tempranillo
Red

Rioja / Tempranillo

Spanish red with red fruit, vanilla, leather and spice. Good with garlic chicken, lamb, roast meat, paprika and grilled…

Grape: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano Region: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Navarra
Syrah / Shiraz
Red

Syrah / Shiraz

Peppery, dark-fruited red with savoury spice and medium-to-firm tannins. Great with grilled meat, pepper, smoke, sausag…

Grape: Syrah, Shiraz Region: Northern Rhône, Barossa, South Africa
Albariño / Vinho Verde
White

Albariño / Vinho Verde

Fresh coastal white wine with citrus, peach, sea-spray minerality and bright acidity. Excellent with seafood, salt cod…

Grape: Albariño, Alvarinho, Loureiro, Arinto Region: Rías Baixas, Minho, Vinho Verde
Chablis / Unoaked Chardonnay
White

Chablis / Unoaked Chardonnay

Lean Chardonnay with citrus, apple, chalk and shell-like minerality. Perfect with white fish, butter sauces, shellfish…

Grape: Chardonnay Region: Chablis, Mâcon, Margaret River, Limarí
Local beers

Sri Lankan beers

Wine can lead the meal, but local beer tells another story: what people drink in bars, restaurants and shops alongside everyday food.

Explore local beers
Lion Lager

Lion Lager

Lager 4.8% ABV
Lion Brewery

Sri Lanka’s flagship lager and the most obvious beer for a Sri Lankan food page.
Lion Stout

Lion Stout

Stout 8.8% ABV
Lion Brewery

A famous Sri Lankan stout with strong international reputation.
Lion Strong

Lion Strong

Strong lager 8.8% ABV
Lion Brewery

A strong lager from Sri Lanka’s dominant beer producer.
Three Coins Lager

Three Coins Lager

Lager 4.8% ABV
Ceylon Brewery / Lion Brewery

A Sri Lankan lager brand with a long-running local identity.
Bison Super Strong

Bison Super Strong

Strong lager 8.8% ABV
Lion Brewery

A strong beer brand sold in Sri Lanka.
Plan the full table

Build a Sri Lankan menu

For Sri Lankan recipes, start with the ingredients that carry the cuisine: staple grains or breads, fresh produce, herbs or spices, good-quality fats, regional dairy or proteins, and any preserved ingredients that give the food its identity.

Open menu builder Meal planner