Traditional Foods for Almsgiving Part 2
In this recipe, we're making 3 traditional vegetarian and vegan dishes that Sri Lankan villagers gave for Almsgiving in the olden days. We're making a mouthwatering Onion Curry that you can eat with anything.
When villagers used to work in the Rice paddy fields, they would make this Onion Curry to eat with Bread, String Hoppers, and Roti. With that, we're also making a Kohila Ala and a Passion Fruit Leaves Sambol.
You can cook the Onion Curry with more or less gravy. Traditionally, villagers would cook this Onion Curry with more gravy. When making any type of Sambol using Leaves, such as this Passion Fruit Leaves Sambol, it is important to prepare the leaves as the last step because if you cut and leave the leaves out for long, it will turn bitter.
This is part 2 of our traditional foods for Almsgiving so be sure to check out our Part 1. If you like these type of unique traditional Sri Lankan Foods, you might be interested in trying my Shallot and Garlic Curry and Traditional Breadfruit Curry recipes.
Ingredients
Onion Curry
- 6 sliced Onions
- 2 sliced Green Chilies
- 2 Tamarind Seeds
- Curry Leaves
- Pandan Leaves
- Toasted Fenugreek Seeds
- Turmeric Powder
- Half a teaspoon of Pepper
- 1 tbsp of Roasted Curry Powder
- Chili Powder
- 3 Cardamom
- 5 Cloves
- Piece of Cinnamon
- Salt
- Coconut Milk
- 3 crushed Garlic Cloves
- Mustard Seeds
- 2 dried Whole Chilies
Kohila Ala Curry
- 500g of Kohila Ala
- Jackfruit Seeds
- 3 Goraka Pieces
- Pandan Leaves
- Sliced Green Chili
- Chopped Onion
- Curry Leaves
- 1 tsp of toasted Fenugreek Seeds
- 1.5 tbsp of Chili Powder
- Turmeric Powder
- 1 tbsp of Roasted Curry Powder
- Salt
- Coconut Milk
Passion Fruit Leaves Sambol
- Passion Fruit Leaves
- Handful of Grated Coconut
- Half a teaspoon of Pepper
- Salt
- Chopped Onion
- 3 sliced Green Chilies
- Juice from 1 Lemon
Instructions
Onion Curry
- Slice 5 Onions and add it into a pot.
- Add 2 sliced Green Chilies.
- Add 2 Tamarind Seeds.
- Add some Curry Leaves.
- Add a few pieces of Pandan Leaves.
- Mix all of these ingredients together using your hands.
- Add some toasted Fenugreek Seeds.
- Add some Turmeric Powder.
- Add half a teaspoon of Pepper.
- Add 1 tbsp of Roasted Curry Powder.
- Add 1 tbsp of Chili Powder.
- Blend some 3 Cardamom and 5 Cloves together and add it.
- Add a piece of Cinnamon.
- Add Salt to taste.
- Add Coconut Milk until everything is covered.
- Mix all these ingredients together using your hands.
- Heat some Oil in a pot over medium heat.
- Add 3 crushed Garlic Cloves.
- Add half a chopped Onion.
- Add some Mustard Seeds.
- Add 2 dried Whole Chilies broken into smaller pieces by hand.
- Lightly fry until a golden color.
- Turn off the stove.
- Add 1 tsp of Chili Powder.
- Add some Turmeric Powder.
- Pour the Onion Coconut mixture into the pot.
- Cook over medium heat until the Onions are tender.
Kohila Ala Curry
- Remove the peel from 500g of Kohila Ala.
- Cut the Kohila Ala into cubes.
- Score the sides of each of the Kohila Ala cubes so that it absorbs the seasonings.
- Add some Jackfruit Seeds.
- Add these ingredients into a pot, add Water, and then boil.
- After boiling, drain the pot.
- Now add 3 Goraka pieces into the pot.
- Add some Pandan Leaves.
- Add a sliced Green Chili.
- Add a chopped Onion.
- Add some Curry Leaves.
- Add 1 tsp of toasted Fenugreek Seeds.
- Add 1.5 tbsp of Chili Powder.
- Add some Turmeric Powder.
- Add 1 tbsp of Roasted Curry Powder.
- Add Salt to taste.
- Add Coconut Milk until everything is covered.
- Cook over medium heat until the Kohila Ala is soft and tender.
Passion Fruit Leaves Sambol
- Add a handful of grated Coconut into a bowl.
- Add half a teaspoon of Pepper.
- Add Salt to taste.
- Add a chopped Onion.
- Add 3 sliced Green Chilies.
- Squeeze the juice from 1 Lemon.
- Mix all these ingredients together using your hands.
- Wash a handful of Passion Fruit Leaves.
- Press then Passion Fruit Leaves together and cut into thin strips.
- Add the Passion Fruit Leaves into the bowl.
- Mix these ingredients together thoroughly using your hands.