Why Pol Sambol deserves more attention

Pol Sambol rarely gets the international recognition it deserves. The warming with cinnamon complexity is genuine, not simple, and the technique involved in using Maldive fish chips correctly takes real skill.

Maldive fish is a uniquely Sri Lankan ingredient with no close equivalent elsewhere. I encountered it first in a family hoppers breakfast and that context helped me understand it properly. arrack is the natural accompaniment and the combination makes the case for the dish. If you haven't explored this cuisine seriously, Pol Sambol is the dish to start with.