Sticking to your diet is tough when you’re travelling. Not all countries you travel to will have extensive vegan or vegetarian options in their food culture, and you’d be hard pressed for luck if you were to seek them out in menus. However, Sri Lanka is a vegetarian foodie’s paradise, since the vibrant, aromatic and delicious gastronomy here also happens to be ethical and vegetarian most of the time.
Sri Lankan cuisine doesn’t try too hard to be vegetarian, and it most certainly isn’t because it is the current trend to promote meat-alternatives. The locals have always followed a plant-based diet, since it is an agrarian society where you eat what you grow. Meat, dairy and eggs were treated as a luxury, and not a necessity. They adapted to their circumstances, and created absolutely mouth-watering dishes that more than made up for the lack of meat protein on the plate. So, if you’re worried you might not be able to follow your diet regime while you’re here, this article will give you the assurance you need to confirm that trip to Sri Lanka.
Just Ask:
Sri Lankans are known for their welcoming hospitality and warmth. They will assist you in all your needs, with a big smile on their face and would expect nothing more than your genuine happiness. If you’re concerned about what ingredients might have gone into your plate of food, ask the waiter or the chef, and they will be glad to explain it to you. If you’re in Colombo, English will be widely spoken, so you won’t have to worry about the language barrier. However, if you travel out of town, you might need to find someone who could translate for you. In either case, you could simply request the chef to make some adjustments to your dishes, when you place the order. You will be able to enjoy a tantalizing culinary experience and still be ethical.
There Is No “Vegan Food”, but…
There is no “vegan food” in Sri Lanka, but it just so happens that a large number of local favorites are vegan food. Confused? We’ll explain. If you go to a small restaurant or a roadside café and request for a vegan menu, you’d be met with rolled eyes and blank stares. The term isn’t recognized here. You could get a range of vegan food at five star restaurants and hotels, but that isn’t the same when it comes to eating authentic food, the way a local does. But fear not. All this means is that, you’d still get to indulge on your preference of food, but it won’t be in a separate menu. Most food here is plant-based and is built around a carbohydrate like rice, magnoc, sweet potatoes, kurakkan flour, bread and rotti. The options are endless and you’d be spoilt for choice.
When in Doubt, Opt for Rice and Curry:
Sri Lanka is Spice Nation and Rice and Curry is the cherry on top of the spice cake. All who have a hint of Sri Lankan blood in them, enjoy it at least for one meal a day (usually, lunch), if not more. There’s a reason for that: it’s divine. It is humble, but it is fit for a king. We could sing the praises of rice and curry all day, but you’d never know how delicious it is until you try it out for yourself. It’s the staple food in Sri Lanka, and it is a mound of steaming hot rice, paired with multiple curries as the name implies. These curries include dhal, vegetable options like carrot, beetroot, beans as well as coconut sambol, amberella or mango chutney, and papadum crisps. You would never get bored of eating this as there is always a variety, and trust us, you wouldn’t even notice that there is no meat on your plate. (You could get meat curries added on, if you’d like too). It’s affordable, easy to get, and a delight to eat. Dig in with your hands, and don’t be shy to ask for seconds. We know you’d want to.
Fruits and Veggies for the Win:
You’re in a tropical paradise, it would be a shame if you didn’t try out exotic fruits and vegetables. Sri Lanka is home to a plethora of gorgeous, colorful, succulent and mouthwatering vegetables and fruits. For example, did you know that the vegan sensation that is jackfruit is commonly enjoyed with rice and curry in Sri Lanka, prepared in multiple ways like polos sambol, polos curry, kiri kos, kos ata and even acts as a substitute for rice? It’s also a dessert when ripe! Sri Lanka revolutionized the usage of jackfruit in cooking way before it became a thing! Other local vegetables that you must try include kohila, dambala, thumba karavila, and greens such as gotukola, hathavariya, kathurumurunga and murunga. The fruits are where the gold is at though. From juicy pineapples, to many varieties of mangos, papaya, bananas of all shapes and sizes, to more exotic goodies like rambutan, soursop and mangosteen, you’d never go hungry in Sri Lanka.
Photos sourced from Amila Tennakoon, Hafiz Issadeen
