Kottu Roti
Sri Lanka's iconic street food — shredded flatbread stir-fried on a loud iron griddle with egg, vegetables, and curry, the rhythmic clanging of the blades a hallmark of Colombo nights.
About This Recipe
Kottu roti is Sri Lanka's most exhilarating street food experience — as much a performance as a meal. The vendor's rapid, rhythmic chopping on a hot iron griddle with two metal blades creates a distinctive clang-clang-clang that announces the kottu cart from streets away. The sound is so iconic that it has become the ringtone of Sri Lankan nightlife. The dish uses leftover godamba roti as its base, and stir-frying with egg and curry creates a texture that is simultaneously crispy and tender.
Ingredients
Serves 2
- 4 wholegodamba roti or flatbread(shredded into strips)
- 3 largeeggs(beaten)
- 1 mediumonion(sliced)
- 2 stalksspring onions(sliced)
- 2 wholegreen chilies(sliced)
- 1 sprigcurry leaves
- 2 tbspSri Lankan curry powder
- 1 tspchili powder
- 150 mlchicken or vegetable curry(leftover curry or gravy)
- 2 tbspvegetable oil
- 1 tspsalt
Instructions
- 1
Heat the griddle
Heat a large flat pan or tawa over very high heat. Add oil.
- 2
Fry aromatics
Add onion, spring onions, curry leaves, and green chilies. Stir-fry 2 minutes.
- 3
Add spices and egg
Add curry powder and chili powder. Push to the side. Add beaten eggs to the pan and scramble.
- 4
Add the roti
Add shredded roti and the curry gravy. Stir-fry everything together, chopping as you go, for 5–7 minutes.
- 5
Serve
Serve immediately, very hot.
Pro Tips
- →
The highest heat possible is crucial — this is a fast, furious stir-fry
- →
Leftover curry with gravy gives the best results
Variations
- •
Add chicken, mutton, or shrimp
- •
Use egg noodles (egg kottu) instead of roti
Storage
Best eaten immediately while hot and crispy. Not suitable for storing.
History & Origin
Kottu roti was developed in Sri Lanka in the 1970s, reputedly in Jaffna, as a way to use up day-old roti. It spread rapidly and became the country's signature street food.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the clanging sound associated with kottu roti?
Street vendors use two metal blades to chop the roti on the hot griddle — the percussive sound is part of the kottu roti experience.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving · 2 servings total
Time Summary
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