Sri Lankan cuisine is known for spicy and flavorful dishes that give the opportunity to explore new tastes. There are several delicious traditional dishes, some are hot and some are spicy, yet always give a yummy taste. Among all local dishes, hoppers are a versatile traditional food that holds a very special place in Sri Lankan cuisine. It is a highly popular breakfast and dinner food item in Sri Lanka. Certainly, most travelers prefer to taste this Sri Lankan delicacy while traveling in the country.
Hoppers are bowl-shaped pancakes, made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk. The hopper batter ferment with yeast, thus it gives a subtle sourness that balances beautifully with the sweetness of coconut milk. They are cooked in small round hopper pans over a medium heat gas flame. Hoppers tend to come out with crispy round edges and a thick bottom. This blend of textures makes hoppers a unique and delicious food among all other local favorites.
Hoppers are versatile food that serves in both top-class restaurants and street hopper shops. Usually, they are available for breakfast in fine dining restaurants. On the other hand, they are sold as a dinner food item in street hopper shops. By the way, they won’t be available at lunchtime. Either for breakfast or dinner, hoppers can make you happy and satisfied with their extremely rich flavor and crispiness.
There are different kinds of hoppers available in Sri Lanka. In this post, we are going to introduce you to the types of hoppers you’ll find in the country. As well as, here we show you the best side dishes to try with hoppers.
1. Plain Hoppers
Plain hoppers are the most widespread type of hoppers in Sri Lanka. They are the most basic type, without any addition to the centre of hoppers. Plain hoppers are rich in milky taste. Thus, they call as milk hoppers too. Moreover, plain hoppers are perfect for filling up the many possible accompaniments into the bowl-shaped thick centre part.
2. Egg Hoppers
Egg hoppers, made by adding an egg to the bowl-shaped part are an absolute favorite of many Sri Lankans. This is one of the top delicacies in Sri Lanka. Definitely, Egg hoppers in Sri Lanka are a must-try food you should taste while traveling in the country.
In order to make egg hoppers, an egg is cracked into the pan during the hopper cooking. The whole egg, a bit of pepper and salt is added to the centre and the pan is covered by the lid. It is cooked just to the point where it is still runny enough to break during eating. Within minutes, a delightful hopper is ready with a savory egg at the bottom.
Egg hoppers are best to taste as soon as cooked, while they are warm. This mouth-watering delicacy with a half-boiled egg in the centre can satisfy your hunger easily. Not only egg hoppers are yummy, but they also offer an eye-pleasing view on the table with their lovely appearance.
Accompanied by pepper powder and a bit of salt, egg hoppers have a highly appetizing flavor that you may not stop tasting more and more. Without a doubt, you will addict to this savoring food from now on.
3. Honey Hoppers
This is another type of hoppers, made by adding honey to the centre part. Some people prefer to eat these sweetened hoppers. They call as Pani Appa in Sinhalese. Specially, these hoppers are ideal for kids who like sweet snacks.
4. String Hoppers
String hoppers are completely different from the usual hoppers. They are more similar to noodles than hoppers. These steamed tiny noodles nests use for both breakfast and dinner. It eats with vegan curries including dhal or white potato curry and spicy coconut sambol.
How to Eat Hoppers
Plain hoppers are perfect for topping with side dishes. The side dishes include vegan curries or seeni sambol, a sweet and spicy caramelized onion relish. For a more elaborate meal, you can taste hoppers with fish or chicken curry. The combination of hoppers with side dishes is so yummy and it has captured the hearts of many food lovers.
The classic accompaniments for hoppers are Sri Lankan spicy chili paste called Katta Sambol or Lunu Miris. This is a fiery blend of chili, onion, and spices. Surely, adding a little bit of hot chili paste will spice up your hopper meal. Another classic addition to hoppers is coconut sambal, which coconut mixed with chili and lime. This combination is so yummy and a favorite among locals.
Sri Lankan Hoppers in World
The happy news is these delicious hoppers are no longer limited to Sri Lanka. Hoppers are becoming a trending food in the global cuisine too. It has created a craze across the culinary world. In 2019, British online food delivery company Deliveroo called Sri Lankan hoppers as one of the trendiest foods around.
Thanks to its taste and versatility, this Sri Lankan snack is making its way around the world. Currently, hoppers are available in almost all major cities in the world. Here we have found some of the best hoppers shops in the world. Check out whether this mouth-watering delicacy is available in your city.
1. London – There are several famous hoppers shops in London. The Soho Hoppers is the most famous one.
2. Melbourne – There are a number of hoppers shops in Melbourne. Crunchy hoppers and Elephant Corridor are available in Melbourne city.
3. Vienna – Colombo Hoppers is available in Vienna city, Austria.
4. Toronto – Hoppers Hut is a quite famous fast food restaurant where you can buy hoppers in Toronto, Canada.
5. Hong Kong – Hotal Colombo offers both plain and egg hoppers in Hong Kong.
To sum up, delicious hoppers are one of the must-try foods in Sri Lanka. Hoppers shops are widely available in the country and they serve hoppers fresh from the pan. Taste them with chili paste and delicious curries on the side. Make sure to taste both plain hoppers and egg hoppers that will arrive at your table. The combination of rich milky tastes and textures is sure to keep you coming back for more. Definitely, you are going to like hoppers so much and love them forever.!
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