Kiribath

Kiribath

Kiribath.jpg Kiribath
Origin
Alternative name(s)	Milk rice, paacor
Place of origin	Sri Lanka
Details
Main ingredient(s)	Rice, coconut milk

Kiribath (milk rice) is a traditional Sri Lankan dish made from rice. The word is a compound with a transparent meaning in the Sinhala language, where kiri (කිරි) means "milk" and bath ( බත්) means "rice". Kiribath can be considered a form of rice pudding. The dish is prepared by cooking rice with coconut milk, whence this name. In Tamil, the dish is called paalchoru. The origins of Kiribath are not clear although it has now become a traditional dish and is common in almost every household in Sri Lanka, be it rich or poor.

Kiribath is an essential dish for any auspicious moment. It is very commonly served for breakfast on the first day of each month and is a very important aspect for the Sinhalese in celebrating the Sinhalese New Year. Kiribath is cooked and served as the first meal after the dawn of the new year.Kiribath is one of famous and a major food in Sri Lanka

Preparation

The recipe for Kiribath is fairly simple. After the rice is cooked in boiling water for about fifteen minutes, the coconut milk is added and cooked again until the liquid is absorbed. Salt is also added when cooking. However there are some variations to this where different ingredients are added, such as sesame seeds or cashew. There is another derivation of 'Kiribath', that is Imbul Kiribath.

Serving

Kiribath is usually served with Lunumiris, a mixture of red onions and spices. It is also consumed with jaggery and bananas. On the Sinhalese New Year or on any other special occasion, it is served alongside traditional sweets like 'Kevum', 'Kokis' and 'Athirasa'.

The common method of serving Kiribath is placed on a flat plate and leveling the top and sides. Then it is cut into diamond shaped pieces. This has become almost the standard way of serving Kiribath, and it is almost impossible to find it being served in any other way.

See also

• Rice and curry
• Cuisine of Sri Lanka