Sri Lanka, the magnificent island surrounded by the Indian Ocean is a world-famous destination for fresh seafood. It is well known for many varieties of delicious seafood, which are tastier than anywhere in the world. Major seafood available in Sri Lanka are prawns, crabs, oysters, squids, lobsters, tuna, and many other fish species.
Seafood plays a significant role in Sri Lankan cuisine, where fresh or preserved seafood is a major component of the local daily meals. Since fresh fish is readily available, every household includes one seafood dish in the meal. You’ll find Sri Lankan seafood has the best quality in the world and their taste is absolutely great. It will definitely enthrall your taste buds, wanting to taste them more and more.
You can easily find seafood restaurants anywhere in Sri Lanka. Many of the beach hotels spread across the island provide fresh seafood dishes. As well as, there are numerous vendors who sell the fresh catch of fish right on the beach. Fresh Sri Lankan seafood like prawns, crabs, lobsters, and many more are yummy delicacies. Tasting them is one of the best culinary experiences not to miss in Sri Lanka.
Major Seafood in Sri Lanka
1. Prawns
Prawns come in different species and various sizes. Both cultivated and wild-caught prawns are available on the island. There are many ways to cook prawns, while the most favorite dish is Sri Lankan devil prawns. This is a bit hot and spicy delicious seafood dish that goes well with plain white rice.
Prawn curry is also highly famous among Sri Lankans. Prawns cooked with spices and coconut milk. This curry is creamy and rich in taste. Prawn curry is one of the main Sri Lankan seafood dishes preferred by locals.
Prawns can prepare into a salad or roasted with barbecue sauce. It can garnish with salad leaves, herbs, and black pepper. As well, it can deep-fry after dipping in the batter.
Prawns are a major component of a mouth-watering dish of seafood rice. Since delicious seafood rice is readily available in beach restaurants, remember to enjoy it in Sri Lanka.
2. Crabs
Crab is a very popular seafood in Sri Lankan hotels and restaurants. Sri Lankan mud crabs are world-famous among seafood lovers. The two main ways of preparing crab are dry or curried crab.
Crab curry can prepare in various ways and you’ll be spoilt by the choice to select the best recipe. One best crab dishes to taste is Sri Lankan chili crab curry. as the name implies, this crab curry has a spicy taste and is best for spicy food lovers, Crab curry cooked with spices and coconut milk is a creamy, mouth-watering dish. Many traditional Sri Lankan herbs and spices are added to make this crab curry rich in taste.
As well, crab meat can use as a shredded substance and condiments added to make different kinds of crab recipes. These colorful crab recipes will melt your heart and gives ultimate satisfaction of enjoying fresh crab dishes than anywhere in the world.
If you love to taste crabs, the best place to go in Sri Lanka is the Ministry of Crabs in Colombo. It is a world-famous, grand restaurant dedicated to crab lovers. Lots of crab dishes are available there, including delectable crab rice. This scrumptious crab-flavored rice will bring your taste buds to a whole new level.
3. Lobsters
Lobsters can find in many grand Sri Lankan hotels and restaurants. Regarded as one of the major oceanic delicacies, lobsters are quite highly-priced among other seafood. But Lobsters are readily available in beach-side fish markets and Sri Lanka is the best place in the world to enjoy this delicacy.
There are a number of local and international lobster recipes, that tourists can experience in Sri Lanka. As one of the tastiest sea foods, lobsters are a delicacy not to miss in this seafood paradise.
Lobsters cook either by boiling, steaming, or grilling. It serves like a fancy dish garnished with colorful vegetables and other seafood sauce for dipping. Don’t forget to enjoy tasty lobsters and satisfy your seafood cravings while touring in Sri Lanka.
4. Tuna
Sri Lanka is a leading tuna supplier to the global seafood market. The major tuna species found in Sri Lankan waters are yellowfin and bigeye tuna. Sri Lanka supplies these tuna species to a range of countries including the USA and Japan.
Sri Lankan tuna is the most sought-after variety by Japanese consumers. Our tuna exports to Japan largely as fresh tuna blocks, for the production of sashimi and sushi.
Tuna fish is quite popular in the local fish market too. Tuna fish cooked in traditional Sri Lankan way calls as “Ambul Thial”. This is a dry fish curry made by adding plenty of spices and Garcinia paste. Tuna fish well marinated with salt, spices, and Garcinia paste and cook slowly in a clay pot.
It is a very delicious dish and can keep at room temperature for even one week, without spoiling. The addition of thick spice paste gives it a unique taste. Remember to try it in Sri Lanka and definitely you’ll love Sri Lankan Tuna ambul thial.
5. Other Fish
There are many species of saltwater fish are available in Sri Lanka. The favorite kinds of saltwater fish are seer, shark, and fish like Spanish Mackerel, trevally, barracuda, groupers, snappers, white mullet, parrotfish, and ribbonfish. They are the major fish varieties supplied by Sri Lanka to the international markets.
Sri Lankans cook fish curry in an array of styles, according to their preferred ways of cooking. Chili fish curry by adding lots of chili and spices is the common way of having fish in Sri Lanka.
As well, yellow fish curry can cook by adding spices and coconut milk. This creamy fish curry has a mild, flavorful taste. Both fish curries are delicious and completely worthy to try in Sri Lanka.
6. Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish is a popular seafood in local fish markets. It is normally prepared by cutting into small rings and the favorite way of cooking it is deep-frying. The deep-fried cuttlefish has a ring-like appearance and it is a delicacy for seafood lovers.
There are a mouth-watering array of dishes made by cuttlefish. It can prepare as a curry too. Plenty of spices and chili powder adds while cooking cuttlefish curry. It goes well with plain white rice and this curry adds spice to any meal.
7. Oysters
Oysters are a readily available special dish prepared to perfection by Sri Lankan chefs. It is often grilled and eaten with a barbecue sauce. Cooked oysters provide with the shell and many spices, herbs, and sauces add to make this a tasty dish. It is an ideal accompaniment to any meal.
There is many other seafood in Sri Lanka, including octopus, clams, mussels, and many more. Remember to taste each of them while touring the island.
To sum up, Sri Lanka is blessed with the most delicious seafood in the Indian Ocean. Thus, seafood is one of the major things to enjoy during food tours in Sri Lanka. Visitors will get to know the new flavors and explore many varieties of savory seafood dishes. There isn’t any doubt you can enjoy the tastiest seafood you have ever tasted anywhere in the world. Enjoying the delicious seafood on the beach with a colorful sunset will create a mind-soothing and elegant moment in your life.
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. All copyrights reserved by original authors.
