Kottu Roti // කොත්තු රොටී // கொத்து ரொட்டி
Kottu Roti (often referred to simply as Kottu) is the ultimate Sri Lankan street food. It is a dish that is as performance-art as it is cuisine, known for the rhythmic, metallic clatter of metal blades chopping the ingredients on a heated iron griddle.
Origin
Kottu originated in Batticaloa in the eastern region of Sri Lanka in the late 1970s. It was created by local street vendors as an ingenious way to avoid food waste by shredding leftovers from the day's parotta (flatbread), mixing them with eggs, vegetables, aromatic spices, and a choice of meat curry (typically chicken, beef, or mutton). The word "Kottu" translates to "to chop" in Tamil, directly referencing the preparation method.
Over the decades, it evolved from a budget-friendly meal for the working class to a national culinary icon beloved by all walks of life.
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