Kitchen Recipe Collection
Sri Lankan Red Rice & Curry
A nourishing and colorful Sri Lankan breakfast or lunch — fragrant red rice served alongside dhal curry, coconut sambol, and a fish curry on a traditional banana leaf.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- sri lankan
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- red rice
- red lentils (dhal)
- turmeric
- coconut milk
- onion
- garlic
- curry leaves
- mustard seeds
- coconut sambol
- fish curry
Equipment
- Rice cooker or pot
- Saucepan
- Banana leaf (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Cook Red Rice
Wash red rice thoroughly. Cook in a pot with water (2:1 ratio) for 30–35 minutes until tender. Red rice takes longer than white rice.
- 2
Prepare Dhal
Boil rinsed red lentils with turmeric and water until soft. In a separate pan, temper mustard seeds, curry leaves, garlic, and onion in oil, then add to the lentils with coconut milk. Simmer until creamy.
- 3
Prepare Coconut Sambol
Mix freshly grated coconut with red chili, diced onion, lime juice, and salt. Pound lightly in a mortar.
- 4
Serve
Lay a banana leaf as a plate. Serve a portion of red rice in the center, surrounded by dhal curry, coconut sambol, and a piece of fish curry.
Cooking Tips
- Red rice has a naturally nutty, earthy flavor and a chewy texture that is far more satisfying than white rice.
- The dhal is best made a little loose and creamy — it thickens as it cools.
- Always serve with a squeeze of fresh lime over the sambol.
Variations
- Vegan: Skip the fish curry and serve with a dry tempered potato or jackfruit curry instead.
- Kurakkan: Substitute red rice with finger millet (kurakkan) rice for an even more nutritious meal.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- Red rice is a staple of traditional Sri Lankan households and is considered healthier than polished white rice due to its higher fiber and mineral content.
- Storage: Cooked red rice keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Dhal keeps for 2 days.
Nutrition Estimate
480 calories · 18g protein · 72g carbs · 14g fat · 9g fiber per serving
