Ingredient appreciation — what makes Fish Ambul Thiyal special

What sets Fish Ambul Thiyal apart is the handling of pandan. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the deeply coconut-rich result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Sri Lankan cuisine differs markedly between Sinhalese, Tamil, and Burgher traditions on the same island. The a Jaffna Tamil restaurant atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had Ceylon tea as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Fish Ambul Thiyal is the place to start.