DISH RESEARCH · Dish
Pol Sambol
Sri Lankan fresh-coconut relish pounded with chillies, shallot, black pepper, lime and salt.
About Pol Sambol
Pol Sambol is a traditional Sri Lankan coconut relish served alongside rice, hoppers, string hoppers and curries. This profile follows Karan Gokani’s fresh-coconut version and excludes the explicitly optional Maldive fish.
Fresh coconut brings mild sweetness and richness, sharpened by lime and the savoury bite of shallot. Green chilli, red chilli flakes and black pepper build a direct, layered heat while salt draws the flavours together.
The relish is coarse, moist and crumbly rather than smooth, with white coconut stained bright red by the chilli. Small green and purple flecks remain visible through the loose mixture.
Allergens in this recipe
Allergen details are not yet confirmed.
Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.
Ingredients in Pol Sambol
Karan Gokani's Fresh-Coconut Pol Sambol.
- Freshly grated coconutRich, coarse relish base
- Green chilliesFresh chilli heat
- Banana shallotPungent savoury aromatic
- Red chilli flakesDry chilli heat and red colour
- Black peppercornsPeppery warmth
- Sea saltSeasoning
- Lime juiceFresh acidity
Ingredient details & uncertainties
Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.
- Freshly grated coconut:
- Green chillies:
- Banana shallot: . The source names one banana shallot or two shallots; this profile fixes the banana-shallot branch and maps it to the established shallot record
- Red chilli flakes: . Bright red chilli flakes map to the established red-pepper-flakes record
- Black peppercorns: . Crushed black peppercorns map to the established black-pepper record
- Sea salt:
- Lime juice:
Origins & food traditions
Sri Lankan restaurateur Karan Gokani supplies a complete fresh-coconut pol sambol recipe using chillies, shallot, black pepper, salt and lime, with Maldive fish explicitly optional. The independent pol sambol reference identifies it as a traditional Sri Lankan coconut relish and corroborates the coconut, shallot, chilli, lime and salt core.
Countries
- Sri Lanka
- Sri LankaCatalogue link pending review
Cuisines & regions
- Sri Lankan Cuisine
- Sri Lankan CuisineCatalogue link pending review