Seeni Sambol

I adore this mild onion sambol. The sweetness from the caramelised onions and sugar (seeni) is perfectly balanced with chilli and spices. One of the key ingredients is dried Maldive fish, which adds a saltiness and distinct Sri Lankan flavour. Thiloma gave me a jar of seeni sambol to take on my drive around the island. I would stop at roadside stalls, order some pol roti or egg hoppers and inconspicuously produce the jar from my bag and smear on the sambol — it was heavenly!