Kitchen Recipe Collection
Sri Lankan Coconut Sambol (Pol Sambol)
A freshly made Sri Lankan condiment of grated coconut pounded with red chili, Maldive fish, onion, and lime — an absolutely essential accompaniment served at every Sri Lankan breakfast and meal.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 10 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- sri lankan
Ingredients
Scaled for 6 servings
- freshly grated coconut
- red chili flakes or dried red chilies
- Maldive fish (dried tuna)
- small red onion
- lime juice
- salt
Equipment
- Mortar and pestle or food processor
Instructions
- 1
Pound Base
In a mortar and pestle, pound the dried red chilies (or use chili flakes), Maldive fish, and finely diced red onion into a rough paste.
- 2
Add Coconut
Add the freshly grated coconut to the mortar. Continue to pound and mix until the coconut absorbs the red color of the chili and the flavors are fully combined. The mixture should be coarse, not smooth.
- 3
Season
Add freshly squeezed lime juice and salt. Pound a few more times. Taste and balance the heat, salt, and sourness.
- 4
Serve
Serve immediately alongside hoppers, string hoppers, pittu, roti, or rice.
Cooking Tips
- Fresh grated coconut is absolutely non-negotiable for authentic pol sambol. Desiccated coconut will not produce the correct texture.
- Maldive fish (umbalakada) adds the essential umami depth. For a vegan version, it can be omitted, but the flavor changes significantly.
- The pounding action in the mortar breaks down the coconut fibers and helps the ingredients meld together — do not use a blender as it makes the sambol too smooth.
Variations
- Vegan Pol Sambol: Omit the Maldive fish. Add a pinch of soy sauce or a tiny bit of nori for umami.
- Extra Spicy: Use more dried red chilies for an intensely hot sambol.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- Pol Sambol is arguably the most important condiment in Sri Lankan cuisine. No breakfast is complete without it.
- Storage: Best made fresh. Can be stored in the fridge for 1 day, but fresh is always superior.
Nutrition Estimate
130 calories · 3g protein · 6g carbs · 11g fat · 3g fiber per serving
