Sri Lankan Gotu Kola Sambol (Pennywort Herb Salad)

About This Recipe

Sri Lankan Gotu Kola Sambol is a real, traditional Sri Lankan dish, known as Pennywort Herb Salad. Finely shredded gotu kola leaves tossed with grated coconut, lime, onion and chili, a refreshing, nutrient-dense Sri Lankan side salad.\n\nGotu kola sambol showcases Sri Lanka's use of gotu kola (Centella asiatica), a leafy green long valued in traditional medicine, transformed here into a simple, refreshing raw salad served alongside rice and curry.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Sri Lankan home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 150 gfresh gotu kola leaves(very finely shredded)
• 0.5 cupfresh grated coconut (or desiccated coconut, moistened)
• 0.5red onion(finely chopped)
• 1green chili(finely chopped)
• 2 tbsplime juice
• 1 tspfine sea salt(to taste)
• 1 tbspchopped fresh curry leaves(optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Shred the gotu kola

   Wash the gotu kola leaves thoroughly, then shred them extremely finely with a sharp knife — the finer the shred, the better the texture.

2. 2

   Combine

   Toss the finely shredded gotu kola with grated coconut, red onion and green chili.

3. 3

   Dress

   Add lime juice and salt, tossing well to combine evenly.

4. 4

   Add curry leaves

   Fold in chopped fresh curry leaves if using.

5. 5

   Rest briefly

   Let the salad sit for 5 minutes so the flavors meld.

6. 6

   Serve

   Serve immediately as a side alongside rice and curry.

Variations

• •

  Add a spoonful of dried Maldive fish flakes for extra umami depth.

• •

  Some households add a bit of tomato for extra freshness and color.

• •

  Adjust the chili quantity to taste for a milder or spicier version.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions