Sri Lankan Pol Sambol (Traditional Coconut Sambol)
A traditional Sri Lankan pol sambol made with freshly grated coconut, red onions, chillies, and fresh lime juice, with optional traditional Maldive fish. A spicy, tangy side dish full of authentic island flavour.
By CrockBites · Published
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Serves
- 4 servings
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CrockBites · Good Food. Less Fuss. · https://crockbites.site/recipe/sri-lankan-pol-sambol-traditional-coconut-sambol/
Sri Lankan Pol Sambol (Traditional Coconut Sambol)
Prep 15 min · Cook 0 min · Total 15 min
Servings:
Makes 4 servingsOnly the ingredient amounts change. Cooking time does not scale in proportion, and a slow cooker should be about half to two-thirds full. Check temperature, not just time.
Ingredients
Tick items off as you gather them for prep.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
Grate the fresh coconut and finely chop the red onion. Slice the chillies (and prepare 1 tablespoon of crushed Maldive fish flakes only if making the non-vegan coastal variation).
Step 2: Crush the aromatics and spices
In a mortar and pestle or bowl, lightly crush the chillies, chilli powder, salt, and chopped red onion so the onion juices release and coat the spices.
Step 3: Mix in the coconut and lime juice
Add the freshly grated coconut, fresh lime juice, and optional black pepper. Mix and gently press everything together with your fingertips or a spoon until evenly combined and vibrant orange-red. Taste and adjust salt, chilli, or lime.
Step 4: Serve fresh
Transfer the pol sambol to a serving bowl and serve immediately with rice and curry, string hoppers, hoppers, kiribath, or warm roti.
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Allergen Information
Contains: No major food allergens declared for this recipe.
Notes: The base recipe above is 100% plant-based, vegan, and fish-free. If you add optional traditional Maldive fish (umbalakada), the dish will contain Fish allergen and will no longer be vegetarian or vegan.
Always check packaged ingredient labels. Cross-contact may occur during food preparation.
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