Preface

THE HEART OF EVERY SRI LANKAN HOUSE IS ITS KITCHEN AND THAT IS THE ROOM I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRAWN TO.

I started returning to Sri Lanka on a regular basis, visiting numerous kitchens in my search for recipes. It quickly became clear that many were easier to find than I had anticipated—they were right there in Dehiwala, our family’s ancestral home. Once I had my recipes, I went to the markets with my cousin Manori, then organised a major cook-off with all the ladies of the Kuruvita clan. It was the first time in years they had been together like this and, just as in the old days, they still argued about every single dish. One of the wonderful things about all Sri Lankans and their food is that they rarely agree on the details of any recipe. Most are handed down through generations and include their own very special preparation methods and flavours. I hope I have captured the most treasured recipes from my family’s kitchen, and I also hope this collection encourages other Sri Lankans living far from home to get back into their kitchens and share our rich, diverse culinary tradition with their families and friends.