Kotthu: Sri Lanka’s Ultimate One-Pan Comfort Food

If you want to recreate the bold, vibrant flavours of Sri Lanka at home, Kotthu is the perfect place to start. It’s one of the island’s most iconic street foods – healthy, colourful, packed with spices, and famous for being made fresh on hot metal plates while the chef chops everything together and cooks it in one pan.

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What is  Kotthu?

Many people outside Sri Lanka might not know what kotthu is, but once you try it, you never forget it.
Kotthu is made from chopped roti (a flatbread), stir-fried with vegetables, eggs, aromatics, and spices. Most versions include a scoop of leftover curry like chicken curry or veg curry, giving it a rich, cosy flavour.

A Delicious Way to Use Leftovers 

One of the best things about kotthu is that it’s can be made for leftovers.
You can use:

  • Leftover Christmas turkey or veggies
  • Sunday roast chicken
  • Leftover curries
  • Extra flatbreads or rotis
  • Any veggies hiding in the fridge

Nothing goes to waste, and everything tastes better fried up with spices. It’s practical, and seriously tasty budget friendly meal.

Vegan, Vegetarian, or Meat — Your Choice

Kotthu is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular dishes partly because it’s so adaptable. You can make it:

  • Vegan: roti, veggies, tofu, plant-based curry
  • Vegetarian: eggs, paneer, veg curry
  • Meat: chicken, beef, lamb
  • Seafood: prawns or fish curry

It’s your new customisable comfort meal; all made in one pan.

Simple Homemade Kotthu Roti Recipe

20 minutes
Easy meal to cook
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp coconut oil
6–8 curry leaves
1 medium red onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp salt
1 tsp chilli flakes
¾ cup grated carrots
¾ cup leeks, roughly chopped
1 egg (optional)

For your ‘base’ choose between:
1 cup bread/toast, roughly chopped or your own homemade roti
1 cup cabbage, roughly chopped
1 cup rotti, roughly chopped

Optional: Hard cheese of your choice, grated.

Find more about the recipe here!

METHOD

  1. Place a wok on a medium heat and add the coconut oil.
  2. Once heated, add the onion, garlic, salt, chilli flakes and curry leaves. Fry until golden.
  3. If using an egg, push the onion mix to one side of the pan.
  4. Crack your egg into the other side, and gently scramble.
  5. Once cooked, mix with the onions.
  6. Add your chosen curry, mix well and fry for 2 minutes.
  7. Now add your chosen base. Mix well and fry for 2 minutes.
  8. Add the carrots and leeks, mix all together and fry a final 2 minutes.
  9. If adding cheese, combine with the kotthu mix at the end.
  10. Serve and enjoy!

Taste the Real Thing at The Coconut Tree 

If you want the full Sri Lankan street-food experience, come to The Coconut Tree and try our famous Kotthu — perfect to share with friends and family.
It’s a warm, hearty, one-pan meal made with love, spice, and the true spirit of Sri Lankan cooking.

If you make one at home, make sure to tag us #thecoconuttreekotthu

Cant wait to see them,  love TCT