Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe | Food Voyageur (2024)

Recipe Video Print

Thinly shredded roti mixed with the curry, vegetables and Sri Lankan aromatic spices.Want to know how to make kottu roti just like you get from the streets of Sri Lanka? well, look no further because I learnt to make kottu roti from a roti master which happens to be a street food vendor previously.

Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe | Food Voyageur (1)

What is kottu roti ?

This dish has become the national food of Sri Lanka (hypothetically). it can be found in every corner of Sri Lanka and every food shop makes kottu.
This is originally a dish made in the streets of Sri Lanka. Now even the five-star hotels will definitely have this on their menus, due to its popularity.

About Sri Lankan Kottu roti

If you ever visit Sri Lanka, no trip to Sri Lanka is complete without eating this amazing spicy dish.
It’s designed in a way that you can stand and eat this dish because it was meant to be a one-pot dinner kind of meal. You surely wouldn’t miss this dish in Sri Lanka because it is very noisy when the street food vendors are making it.

It is usually done on a flat grill with two sharp scrapers. And the rotti is cut and shredded through the process of bashing the scrapers on the hot grill. it’s hard to miss a kottu shop from miles away. When you hear the “Takata Takata Takata tak” sound then you know, that’s definitely kottu in the making.
The real name of this dish is Kottu roti but like all slangs in all countries we Sri Lankans started calling ‘it kottu’ or ‘koththu”

Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe | Food Voyageur (2)

Different Sri lankan kottu roti options

Chicken kottu
Egg kottu
Vegetable kottu
Red meat kottu ( Beef, goat)
Cheese kottu; this was a recent addition to the family of kottu

Can I make kottu roti at home?

Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe | Food Voyageur (3)

Yes, it’s so simple and easy. I am going to tell you a big secret, so have you ever wondered how this big 5 star hotels make kottu roti when you order it from room service, so probably you must be thinking the chefs must be making your kottu on a kottu grill!!! Nooooo, they have kottu rotti shredded and all the condiments ready to go and they would just make it in a wok or pan, the exact method I have used in my recipe.

Can I substitute the roti?

Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe | Food Voyageur (4)

You can buy ready-made paratha or roti from shops, but honestly, it’s so easy to make roti that you only need flour, water and salt. Click here to get my roti recipe so I would be recommending to make roti from scratch because it would give you an amazing flavour.

Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe | Food Voyageur (5)

As all street food in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan households never make it at home. Because it’s so easy to buy it anywhere and so cheap as well. But being in a foreign country I need to satisfy my cravings at home. Hence why I created this easy kottu recipe that is easy to recreate at home

You can also check my other Sri Lankan recipes

Watch how to make kottu roti

Step by Step recipe how to make kottu roti

Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe

Shredded roti mixed with chicken curry, vegetables and egg

Prep Time: 2 hours hours

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Calories:


Servings: 2 people

Equipment

  • Pots and Pans

  • Cooktop

Ingredients

Gothamba roti

  • 2 cup All-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup Water Tap water
  • Pinch of salt
  • Oil (Enough to cover the dough) Canola, vegetable oil

Kottu roti

  • 400 g Shredded Roti
  • 2 Carrots Shredded
  • 3 tbsp Red onion chopped
  • 2 sprigs Spring onion Finely sliced
  • 1 tsp Ginger Chopped
  • 1 tsp Garlic Chopped
  • 1 tsp Red Chilli Chopped
  • 10 Curry leaves Chopped
  • 2 Eggs

Instructions

Gothamba roti

  • Combine flour, water, salt in a bowl and mix well

  • Transfer the combined dough into a surface, knead the dough for 5-6 mins, until its smooth & soft ( Add flour to the work surface and on top of the dough, if it is too sticky)

  • Portion the dough into 6 equal portions

  • Using your palm in a circular motion, shape them into smooth balls

  • Add oil to a deep tray and add the prepared dough balls inside the tray with oil (the dough balls need to be submerged in oil) Leave at room temperature for 2 hours.

  • After the dough has rested for 2 hours, take them out of the oil and flatten the dough in a clean surface using your palm and fingertips until you have a thin circular shaped roti

  • Heat flat pan on a medium heat

  • Once the pan is heated cook the prepared roti on the pan cooking both sides

Kottu roti

  • Place the rotis one on top of the other. Roll it all together and slice it thinly.

  • Cook a thick boneless chicken curry and separate the meat from the gravy and shred the chicken using a fork

  • Add 3 Tbsp of oil to a pan on medium heat

  • Add onion, garlic, ginger, carrots, chilli, curry leaves and cook for 2 minutes until cooked

  • Make a small space on the inside of the pan and add the eggs

  • Cook the eggs while scrambling. Mix the vegetables and eggs together once the eggs are cooked

  • Add in the shredded roti, shredded chicken and the gravy. Mix together

  • Serve it warm

Video

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4 thoughts on “Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe”

  1. Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe | Food Voyageur (7)

    liza gerreyn

    09/29/2020 at 5:54 am

    Can i have daily recipes please

    Reply

    1. Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe | Food Voyageur (8)

      Rachi Fernandopulle

      09/29/2020 at 9:41 am

      Hey, have you subscribed to my email subscriptions? I send out recipes every week.

      Reply

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Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe | Food Voyageur (2024)

FAQs

Is kottu roti Tamil or sinhalese? ›

Though no-one is certain exactly where kottu roti came from, it's mostly thought to have originated in the Tamil regions of Sri Lanka, particularly the towns of Batticaloa and Trincomalee.

Which country invented kottu? ›

Sri Lanka

What are the different types of kottu? ›

The Pot Kottu, serves various types of kottu from pork, fish, bacon, and sausages. This kottu is served with a fried egg, some chilli paste, a slice of zucchini and parsley.

What is dolphin kottu in Sri Lanka? ›

A chicken kottu roti recipe for those of you who need that extra kick of spice. This version of the recipe is also known as Dolphin kottu. It is similar to your everyday chicken kottu ONLY spicier with a few extra ingredients. Kottu, in its many varieties, is a popular Sri Lankan street food.

What is the national dish of Sri Lanka? ›

Sri Lanka's national dish is definitely rice and curry. Every meal that includes rice and curry is a hit to the senses and it can be different each time.

What are Sri Lankan Tamils called? ›

Sri Lankan Tamils (Tamil: இலங்கை தமிழர், ilankai tamiḻar or ஈழத் தமிழர், īḻat tamiḻar), also known as Ceylon Tamils or Eelam Tamils, are Tamils native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka.

What do Muslims eat in Sri Lanka? ›

Faluda, biryani, and wattalapam are foods that has its roots in the Sri Lankan Muslim community.

What is the most popular food in Sri Lanka? ›

Top 8 dishes to try in Sri Lanka
  1. Pol Roti (Coconut flatbread) Get ready to fall in love with rotis. ...
  2. Rice and Curry (and papadums!) Sri Lankan curry and rice is the quintessential dish of the island and usually is eaten at lunchtime. ...
  3. Appa / Hoppers. ...
  4. Sour fish curry. ...
  5. Ceylon Tea. ...
  6. Kola Kanda. ...
  7. Toddy & Arrack. ...
  8. The King Coconut.

Do Sri Lankans eat pork? ›

Along the coasts, you'll often see fish, shrimp, or crab. In the high hills of central Sri Lanka, pork is used; chicken, beef, goat, and lamb are found island-wide.

Is Sri Lanka a part of India? ›

They are two different countries.

With 30 kilometers of ocean separating the countries at places, Sri Lanka can sometimes be overlooked when India is right above it due to its large size and world influence.

Is kotthu healthy? ›

Dr. Jayatissa pointed out that transfaty acids are very high in kottu and in fried rice because palm oil is used to fry these foods. The palm oil is used to make Kottu and fried rice after using the oil two or three times to fry other varieties of food. Cholesterol deposits in the liver and cause a fatty liver.

Why is it called Dolphin Kottu? ›

Dolphin Kottu

Invented by Star Hotel in Dehiwela, this one gave many a heart attack when they first heard of it. No, it's not made out of dolphins, and we're not sure why it's called that. Marketing gimmick or not, it's a name that's stuck and a dish that's worth keeping around.

Is kottu Sri Lanka's hamburger? ›

Kottu (also, kottu roti)

Kottu is Sri Lanka's hamburger – everybody's favorite go-to fast food when craving something tasty and greasy. It resembles fried rice, except instead of rice, it's made with a type of roti known as godamba roti (a flat, crispy bread).

Where did kothu roti come from? ›

' Though the concept may be simplistic, Koththu Roti has a history as rich as its taste. Koththu is considered the Sri Lankan equivalent of the hamburger, in terms of its popularity. It began in the 1970s as a part of Tamil culture.

What is Sri Lankan Kottu? ›

Kottu translates from Sinhalese as chopped, and this hugely popular Sri Lankan street food consists of chopped up roti (a type of flatbread), stir-fried with chicken, vegetables and egg.

Is Sri Lankan Tamil same as Indian Tamil? ›

The Tamils in Sri Lanka can be divided into two groups, the Sri Lankan Tamils, who are native to the island of Sri Lanka and the Indian Tamils or Hill Country Tamils, who are descendants of bonded labourers sent from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka in the 19th century to work in tea plantations.

What is roti called in Tamil Nadu? ›

You just say Chapathi (99.99% of Tamilians will understand) Roti is close alternative — but caution few other things are also called as Roti in Tamil.

What is the origin of Kothu Roshi? ›

Origins of Kothu

It is difficult to pinpoint the origins of this dish, although most sources claim that Kothu originated in the eastern Tamil regions of Trincomalee or Batticaloa in the 1970s.

Is roti a Tamil food? ›

Roti is a type of flatbread that is commonly consumed in North India, but it is not a staple food in South India. South Indian cuisine is known for its diverse range of rice-based dishes such as dosa, idli, uttapam, and sambar rice, as well as breads like appam, parotta, and poori.

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