Elevate Your Palate: Gotu Kola Salad Recipe
There is nothing more satisfying than preparing a dish that transports you to the heart of a new culture. The Gotu kola Salad Recipe I am about to share with you is exactly that – a taste of Sri Lanka!
Sri Lankan cuisine is an aromatic and flavourful experience, with each dish perfectly balancing sweet, sour, spicy and salty. The Gotu kola Salad, also known as pennywort salad, is a popular Sri Lankan delicacy packed with fresh ingredients that boast uniquely delicious flavours.
If you are looking for something refreshing and exotic to tantalize your taste buds, then this recipe is perfect for you. Not only is it healthy and low in calories but it can be prepared quickly and easily.
In Sri Lanka, this salad holds great significance in traditional medicine and has been regarded as an herb known for its medicinal qualities for centuries. It’s not just another salad recipe; it’s a cultural journey on your plate!
So come along, explore the tastes of Sri Lanka and follow me as I show you how to prepare this amazing Gotu kola salad.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Are you looking for a unique and refreshing salad recipe that will delight your guests at your next dinner party? Look no further than this Gotu Kola Salad recipe!
Not only is this Sri Lankan salad packed with flavor, but it also provides numerous health benefits. The star of the dish, gotu kola, has long been known for its medicinal qualities and is said to aid in digestion, improve brain function and reduce anxiety.
Plus, with its simple ingredient list consisting of vegetables, lime juice, freshly grated coconut and gotu kola sambol, this dish is easy to make and won’t break the bank. Show off your culinary skills by serving your guests a salad they have likely never seen or tasted before. Trust us, they’ll be impressed.
So why settle for a bland and boring salad when you can impress with a delectable Gotu Kola Salad? Give it a try and let the flavors speak for themselves.
Ingredient List
Below are the ingredients needed to make a delicious and healthy Gotu Kola Salad. This Sri Lankan salad is perfect for a light and refreshing meal. It is loaded with flavors and nutrient-rich ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch Gotu Kola (also known as Pennywort or Centella Asiatica)
- 1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped
- 3 Thai green chilies, finely chopped
- 1 small red onion, sliced/chopped
- 2 cups freshly grated coconut
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- Salt to taste
Gotu kola is the main ingredient in this salad. It is an herb that has a well-known medicinal quality. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries due to its various health benefits. Other ingredients include onions, freshly grated coconut, lime juice, salt pepper, and green chilies. These ingredients add flavor and texture to the dish.
The Recipe How-To
Here comes the exciting part, the actual recipe. First thing first, wash and chop 1 bunch of gotu kola, and then finely slice 1 medium-size red onion.
Next, take a mixing bowl and add the chopped gotu kola and sliced onion, then mix them well.
In a separate mixing bowl, put in 1 cup freshly grated coconut, 2 green chillies, and 1 lime juice. Mix all these ingredients well.
After that, add the coconut mixture to the bowl with gotu kola and onion. Mix all of them together thoroughly.
Then, it’s time to make the Kola Sambol (a spicy Sri Lankan condiment). Firstly, finely chop 3 Thai green chillies, followed by 1 small thinly-sliced red onion and finally combine these two ingredients well along with salt, lime juice, and sugar in a separate bowl.
Lastly, to serve the Gotu Kola Salad Recipe with Kola Sambol (Gotu Kola Sambol), take a small separate bowl to make a sambol by mixing Kola Sambol ingredients with chopped gotu kola leaves. Make sure to taste for seasoning, adding more salt or lime juice as required.
That’s it! Your Sri Lankan Gotu Kola Salad Recipe with Kola Sambol is ready to wow your guests!
Substitutions and Variations
If you are looking to switch up this Gotu Kola salad recipe, there are a few ways you can do it while still preserving the delicious and refreshing quality of the original dish.
For example, if you can’t find Gotu Kola leaves at your local farmers market or grocery store, you can substitute with pennywort or Indian pennywort which have similar properties and nutritional benefits. You could also consider using kale or spinach as a substitute for the herb, although these will not provide the same flavor and texture as Gotu Kola.
To give the salad a little more crunch, try adding some shredded carrots or thinly sliced red bell peppers. Another great addition could be some sesame seeds, roasted peanuts or slivered almonds for added texture and flavor.
If you’re feeling adventurous with flavors, go ahead and spice it up a little by adding a chopped green chili pepper for some heat. But if spiciness isn’t your thing, leave it out and enjoy a more mild version of this versatile salad.
For those who prefer sweeter tastes in their salads, consider adding some fresh pomegranate seeds or diced mango for a subtle sweetness that works well with the tangy lime and lemon juice dressing.
As you experiment with variations on this recipe, remember that the heart of any great dish is to experiment and make it your own by using what’s in season or readily available locally. If you do that with this Gotu Kola Salad recipe, you’re sure to impress your guests with your culinary creativity!
Serving and Pairing
Now that your Gotu Kola Salad is ready to serve, it’s time to decide what to pair it with! The crisp and refreshing flavors of this salad make it a fantastic side dish for any meal. I would suggest serving it alongside grilled chicken or fish for a light and healthy summer dinner. It also pairs well with vegetarian dishes such as stir-fry noodles or tofu bowls.
For a more traditional Sri Lankan meal, you could serve it alongside some rice and curry or as part of a larger spread of appetizers, including other sambols and chutneys.
If you want to take the opportunity for an enhanced culinary adventure, I recommend pairing this salad with some other Sri Lankan delicacies such as Egg hoppers or string hoppers topped with seeni sambal (onion relish), pol sambol (coconut relish), Kukul Mas Curry (spicy chicken curry) which will complement the bright flavors of the Gotu Kola Salad beautifully.
And don’t forget about drinks – this salad goes great with a chilled glass of iced tea or ginger beer but even a chilled Sauvignon Blanc would also work perfectly. Happy feasting!
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
This recipe for Gotu kola Salad is an ideal make-ahead dish for a party or gathering of any kind. You can prepare it several hours ahead of time and let the flavors meld together in the refrigerator.
If you are planning to store the salad, make sure to keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The ingredients will stay fresh for up to three days. However, as this salad is best served fresh, I would recommend making only as much as you need.
To reheat the Gotu kola Salad, simply take out the container from the fridge and let it come to room temperature before serving. This will take around 15 minutes or so. Please note that this salad should not be reheated in the microwave as it will wilt and lose its texture when heated.
If you find that your salad is too dry or has lost its flavor after refrigeration, you can always dress it with a little extra lime juice or lemon juice before serving. This will help to rejuvenate and refresh the flavors of the salad.
Finally, for a more effortless and speedy preparation process, you can prepare all of the ingredients for this salad ahead of time and keep them stored separately until you are ready to mix them together. This approach will allow you to assemble this vibrant and healthy Gotu kola Salad quickly at any time.
Tips for Perfect Results
When it comes to making a flavorful and delicious Gotu kola Salad, there are some tips that can make all the difference. Here are some of my favorite tips to ensure perfect results every time:
Firstly, to make sure the pennywort leaves are tender before chopping them, put them in boiling water for 30 seconds then plunge them instantly into an ice bath. This will help to soften them and make the chopping process easier.
Secondly, use freshly squeezed lime juice and not the bottled version. The fresh lime juice gives the salad a zesty flavor while balancing out the bitterness from the pennywort leaves.
Speaking of chopped ingredients, try to chop all vegetables as uniformly as possible for an even distribution of flavors with each bite.
Another tip I highly recommend is to use freshly grated coconut instead of desiccated coconut. You can grate your own coconut or purchase it from a store which increases richness and enhances flavors in the salad.
For those who cannot tolerate spice very well but still crave a hint of heat in their pennywort salad, using green chili pepper instead of red chili pepper would just be perfect.
Finally, it’s important not to add too much salt or sugar in the dressing. Instead, aim for a balance of flavors and let the hero ingredient – gotu kola – shine bright. With these tips in mind, you’re sure to impress your guests with a perfectly balanced and flavorful Gotu kola Salad every time!
Bottom Line
In conclusion, this Gotu Kola Salad Recipe is truly a special treat that you should definitely try. It has a unique and exotic flavor that comes from the combination of ingredients such as gotu kola, coconut, lime juice, onion, and shallots. This salad is not just deliciously satisfying but also packed with healthy nutrients and medicinal qualities. In fact, Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica), the main ingredient in this dish, is an herb that is well-known for its beneficial effects on memory, circulation, and skin health.
Above all else, making this recipe will surely impress your guests at your next dinner party or gathering. It’s a perfect starter or side dish that pairs well with other Sri Lankan or Indian-inspired dishes.
So what are you waiting for? Give this Gotu Kola Salad Recipe a try and enjoy its unique blend of flavors and healthy benefits. Trust me; you’ll be glad you did!
Gotu kola Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 bunches gotu-kola (about 250 g leaves without stems)
- 3 shallots or 1 small onion, finely chopped
- good squeeze lime juice or lemon juice
- 1 sliced chili (optional)
- 75 g fresh grated coconut
- salt
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Wash well and strip leaves from stems.
- Shred finely with a sharp knife.
- Combine with other ingredients and serve immediately.
- The flavour is slightly sour, slightly bitter.
Your Own Notes
Nutrition
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Anna is a culinary expert who specializes in grilling delicious BBQ dishes. She also enjoys sharing her recipes and experiences with her foodie community on her blog. She’s the total package for any backyard barbecue!