Skip to main content
Home The New Paper
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team

Popular

  • COURT & CRIME
  • Food & Drink
Makan

Makansutra: Sri Lankan Food serves up the real deal

Makansutra: Sri Lankan Food serves up the real deal
Mr Odi has been serving up Sri Lankan fare at Sri Lankan Food, a stall at Tekka Centre, for almost 10 years. PHOTO: MAKANSUTRA
Makansutra: Sri Lankan Food serves up the real deal
Mr Odi has been serving up Sri Lankan fare at Sri Lankan Food, a stall at Tekka Centre, for almost 10 years. PHOTO: MAKANSUTRA

Dishes like the Pepper Chicken, Mango Curry and Kale Mallung ensure you'll be back for more

KF Seetoh
KF Seetoh
Food columnist
Jun 25, 2020 06:00 am
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • 0 Engagements

If you walk around Tekka Centre, it's hard to tell the various Indian rice stalls apart.

They all look stunning and are either red, orange or brown - or all of it.

Whether it's food from Chettinadu or Kerala, they assail your senses and if, like me, you are not an expert on such cuisine, it could be overwhelming.

But if you take a moment to check out the curries, meats and vegetables, you'll note some stalls serve up different fare from the usual South Indian delicacies.

And those with a nose for such things will be able to tell they are regions apart.

Mr Odi has been hawking Sri Lankan fare at Sri Lankan Food (more popularly known as Raja Bojun) at Tekka Centre for almost 10 years.

Hunger for bak kwa still strong amid Covid-19 pandemic
Singapore

Hunger for bak kwa still strong amid pandemic

Jan 15, 2021

Related Stories

High five for Club 5's return to glory days

Food FYI

Bring CNY luck home by redeeming Fortune Cat Figurines from FairPrice

Such hawker stalls, rare as they are, should not be forgotten in the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Indeed, we should support them now more than ever, as they add to the colour of our potential Unesco-class makan culture.

They may be comfort food for a small community, but what they offer is no less comforting for the majority.

FIRST GLANCE

At first glance, on my maiden trip to Sri Lankan Food, I could not tell it apart from the stall next door.

But I had been told much about Mr Odi's food, and since his signboard proudly proclaimed it, I asked him: "Can you tell me what I must order that says 100 per cent Sri Lanka?"

My only other brush with authentic Sri Lankan fare was when Chef Publis Silva, a national culinary legend of sorts, held a Sri Lanka food festival at a local hotel earlier this year.

Mr Odi plonked down some soft steamed rice on a banana leaf and placed five items around it ($10).

The dishes were not so heavy with masala, easier on the coconut milk, and the saltiness and spice quotient balanced well with the rice. They were redolent with chilli and pepper, something very refreshing when it comes to such banana leaf meals here.

Each item was a Sri Lankan icon of sorts.

The Pepper Chicken was sitting in a seemingly diluted curry, but it was in-your-face, and the black pepper commanded the situation.

The meat was soft, and when I slathered the peppery curry over the rice with dal or parippu, it was a parade in the mouth.

I then tasted the Mango Curry - sweet, sour and spicy, yet savoury.

It demanded my undivided attention as it calmed all the spiciness and created an unusual taste sensation - the closest I had to this experience was mango chutney with my fish head curry meal.

The salad of shredded kale and coconut, Kale Mallung, was like a truce amid the assault of spices - raw and so attractive to the bite.

Blend it into the rice and you'll have a Sri Lankan nasi kerabu.


Whip up Sri Lankan food at your own kitchen. Get all the necessary ingredients from Lazada


Just add the fish curry, which Mr Odi made with fried mackerel simmered in a black pepper-laden masala sauce.

The sambal (or sambol) ikan bilis surrounded by caramelised onions and tomato was also a treat.

The spicy sweetness and texture of the fried little fish went so well with a spoon of rice and the curries.

I spotted a whole lot of other items beckoning at the stall, so I will be back for more, especially the pepper mutton curry that seemed as if it was teasing me.

I am already imagining slathering it over the string hoppers or Mr Odi's Sri Lanka-style prata Pol Roti, which he sells largely for breakfast.

Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now

Food & Drink

KF Seetoh

Food columnist
KF Seetoh, the founder of Makansutra, dabbles in street food businesses like Food Markets, his own TV shows on cable, publishing food guides, consultancy and online content. He is also the creator of the World Street Food Congress. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 
tnp@sph.com.sg
@kfseetohsg
Read articles by KF Seetoh
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • Newslink -  Purchase this article for republication

Top Stories this Month

Family of girl raped, killed in 1995 appeal for help with case
Singapore

Family of girl raped, killed in 1995 appeal for help with case

Jan 11, 2021
Covid-19 vaccination centres to be opened soon
Singapore

Singapore set to open Covid-19 vaccination centres

Jan 12, 2021
Fear and frustration for maids, employers amid the pandemic
Singapore

Fear and frustration for maids, employers amid the pandemic

Jan 11, 2021
Home
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contact TNP
  • About SPH
  • Privacy Statement
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Member Terms & Conditions
  • Website Terms & Conditions
SPH Digital News Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E