Pol roti and the coconut roti the dense flatbread what is it and how do I eat it and where
I love a good flatbread and I keep being served POL ROTI (a dense coconut flatbread) with my breakfast and meals What exactly is pol roti (coconut roti) how is it different from the thin godamba roti and the Indian breads how do I eat it (with sambol with curry) is it a breakfast thing or anytime and where do I get the best Coming from a bread loving country I want to understand this hearty coconut flatbread Food lovers and locals please tell me about pol roti
6 Answers from travellers
Food guide so the pol roti picture a humble beloved staple What it is POL ROTI (pol means coconut) is a DENSE flatbread made from flour and freshly SCRAPED COCONUT (and water salt sometimes a little chopped onion and green chilli mixed in) kneaded into a dough and cooked flat on a griddle it is hearty rustic and slightly chewy with the texture and flavour of the coconut through it (more substantial and dense than a thin bread) a filling everyday flatbread How it differs POL ROTI is THICK DENSE and coconut rich (a sturdy disc) GODAMBA ROTI (and the paratha style) is the THIN stretchy flaky one (made by stretching dough thin and folding the base of kottu and egg roti the flaky one) so pol roti is the dense coconut one godamba is the thin flaky one quite different the Indian style breads (naan chapati) are different again pol roti is distinctly Sri Lankan and coconutty How to eat it with SAMBOL above all the classic is pol roti with LUNU MIRIS (the fiery onion chilli and lime sambol) or pol sambol (coconut sambol) you tear the roti and scoop or dab the spicy sambol (the simple combo of dense coconut roti and fiery sambol is a national comfort food) also with CURRY (any curry a dhal a fish curry mop it up) with a sweet touch some have it with treacle or jaggery (the kithul threads) or just with a cup of tea tear it with your hand and use it to scoop Breakfast or anytime BOTH it is a popular BREAKFAST (filling and simple with sambol) and eaten at any time (a quick meal or snack a tea time bite) very much an everyday anytime bread Where to get the best a TEA KADE or local eatery (the village shops and small eateries make fresh pol roti the kade threads) a HOMESTAY or home kitchen (homemade pol roti hot off the griddle with fresh sambol is the best) the morning eateries and roadside spots ask for it fresh and hot freshly made warm pol roti is far better than a cold stiff one How to enjoy it order POL ROTI at a tea kade or local eatery (or have it at a homestay breakfast) have it with LUNU MIRIS or pol sambol (the classic) or with a curry tear it by hand and scoop best fresh and hot So pol roti is the DENSE hearty COCONUT flatbread (flour and scraped coconut on a griddle) distinct from the thin flaky godamba roti eat it the classic way with fiery LUNU MIRIS or pol sambol (a national comfort combo) or with any curry tear and scoop by hand it is a popular breakfast and anytime bread get it fresh and hot at a tea kade local eatery or a homestay a simple delicious taste of everyday Sri Lanka
The dense hearty coconut flatbread distinct from the thin flaky godamba roti eaten the classic way with fiery lunu miris or pol sambol or with any curry torn and scooped by hand a popular breakfast and anytime bread best fresh and hot at a tea kade or homestay this is exactly the flatbread education I wanted as a bread lover thank you
Have it fresh and hot off the griddle the difference between a warm freshly made pol roti and a cold stiff one is huge so order it at a busy tea kade in the morning where it is made to order and you get it soft and fragrant with the coconut
Do not confuse it with the kottu or egg roti which use the thin flaky godamba pol roti is the thick dense coconut disc once you know the difference you can order exactly what you want the dense one for scooping sambol or the flaky one for the stir fried kottu
At my homestay they made pol roti fresh for breakfast with three little sambols and it was one of my favourite meals of the trip simple filling and full of coconut flavour if you stay somewhere with home cooking ask if they will make it for you
The simple pairing of hot pol roti and lunu miris is a national comfort food the dense coconut bread with the fiery onion chilli and lime sambol is humble but addictive try it for breakfast with a cup of tea and you taste everyday Sri Lanka at its most honest
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