Kottu Roti — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

Torn strips of godamba roti stir-fried on a screaming-hot griddle with vegetables, eggs, and spices, the rhythmic clang of metal scrapers creating a mesmerizing street-side symphony. Smoky, spicy, and gloriously chaotic, kottu roti is Sri Lanka's most thrilling street food experience.

Ingredients

8 godamba roti (or paratha), torn into strips
300g boneless chicken, cut into small pieces
2 eggs
1 large leek, finely chopped
2 carrots, finely diced
1 cup cabbage, shredded
4 green chilies, chopped
2 tablespoons Sri Lankan curry powder
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon chili flakes
Curry leaves
Salt to taste
Lime wedges for serving

Instructions

1 If making roti from scratch, prepare a simple dough of flour, water, salt, and oil. Roll thin, cook on a hot griddle until spotted, then tear into rough strips. Otherwise, tear pre-made roti into bite-sized strips.
2 Heat a large flat griddle or wok over very high heat with oil. The surface must be screaming hot. Add curry leaves and let them crackle.
3 Add the chicken pieces and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until sealed and beginning to char. Add leeks, carrots, cabbage, and green chilies, tossing vigorously.
4 Push everything to one side and crack the eggs onto the griddle. Scramble them roughly, then mix everything together.
5 Add the torn roti strips, curry powder, soy sauce, and chili flakes. Using two metal scrapers or spatulas, chop and mix everything together with rapid, rhythmic motions. This chopping action is the signature of kottu roti and creates the characteristic uneven texture.
6 Continue tossing and chopping on high heat for 2-3 minutes until the roti strips absorb the flavors and develop smoky, charred edges.
7 Serve hot on a plate or in a takeaway paper, squeezed with lime juice. Accompany with a fiery curry sauce on the side for dipping.

Did You Know?

You can find kottu roti vendors by sound before sight. The distinctive rhythmic clanging of metal scrapers against the iron griddle is one of Sri Lanka's most recognizable sounds, especially at night when the streets come alive with kottu vendors.