Customer Reviews

Exotic Tastes of Sri Lanka

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a must have cookbook for those craving for traditional Sri Lankan food. For someone like myself who was intimidated by traditional cooking, this book has made it simple. It has numerous Sinhala and Tamil recipes that are well described in step-by-step process. This book contains sample menus (wonderful idea), explanations on spices, utensils and measurements, which are of great help for a novice.

Traditional thosai, pittu, idly, yellow rice, dhal curry (parippu), cabbage mallum, kale mallum, crunchy carrot salad, spicy chicken curry and vara (fish), are all included in my meal rotation (delicious recipes). There are many more recipes to try out...and I am getting there!!!!. :)

Read the recipe till the end before beginning to cook. There are hints and alternatives that may save you time.

A must have book.

While this is not a bad book, I think most of the other reviews here are overly generous. This is an eclectic and not-so-polished cookbook. The descriptions of each dish... made to make them seem enticing...are written in bizarre Sri Lankan English with lots of hyperbole and unintended absurdity. However, the recipes themselves are clear and straightforward. However, THERE ARE NO PICTURES of the DISHES - nor is the writing detailed or descriptive on how to cook them - but it is generally SUFFICIENT / ADEQUATE.

The table of contents is far from comprehensive. The recipes are reasonably clear - but the ingredient lists are not separated for the different components of each dish (i.e.,for the stuffing, for the sauce) - and they can be long and hard to manage.

However, it does have a LOT of recipes - both Singalese and Tamil - and some unusual ones that don't show up in the other cookbooks. It really shines with some unusual desserts I haven't seen recipes for anywhere else.

It is recommended if you are a hardcore Sri Lankophile or you know how to make Sri Lankan curry already and want expand your horizons - but it is NOT the best introduction to the subject.

This book makes traditional recipes seem so simple. It gradually builds your confidence to attempt such recipes as hoppers, pittu and string hoppers. I would recommend it as the first and last book. You are able to invent your own recipes once you get the flavour and smell which this books teaches you to acquire so wonderfully!

A lot of recipes for the price. I have already tried out two of the dishes (yellow rice and capsicum badun) and they came out excellent!! - had a lot of praise from friends who enjoyed it. There is a wide selection of rice dishes, curries, appetizers and desserts. Also recipes for a lot of "village" dishes for which the ingredients can be bought at an Asian Store. Excellent book for Srilankan cooking that is easy for even the amatuer cook.

Sadly no pictures - I like to see what my finished product should look like. The book is a good price and well worth the o/seas shipping costs.

As a non Sri Lankan faced with cooking for my Sri Lankan husband, this book has been the best find ever. Even my husband, already a great cook, refers to it and follows instructions from this book. Everything I have tried has been a big hit and tastes terrific and very authentic. I have tried other Sri Lankan recipe books but this is the best I've used by far.

For Mother's Day, I made many of these recipes for my Sri Lankan mother, and she LOVED everything!!! I highly recommend this book for people who are just learning how to cook Sri Lankan foods.

This was on my son's Christmas list, he received it, and he loves it.

Suharshini Sene Viratne's Exotic Tastes Of Sri Lanka presents exotic dishes ranging from Traditional Hoppers (coconut-infused crepes) to Ash Plaintain Curry and Mango Fantasy. It doesn't hold much in the way of pictures, but the easy recipes don't need much embellishment and the coverages are welcomed rarities in a cookbook genre which holds surprisingly little in either area.

So, so good! I have made probably 15 recipes from this book, and while some are more fabulous than others, not one has let me down. They have also wowed at many a dinner party. Photos of the finished dishes would be nice, but even without them this book is a great buy. You will need access to a good South Asian market or mail-order spice service, since many of the herbs and spices called for are not widely available.