Fish Ambul Thiyal
Sour Fish Curry
Yes, keto as served. About 8g net carbs per serving.
What it is
A traditional Sri Lankan dry fish curry, characterized by its intensely sour taste from goraka (Garcinia cambogia) or dried tamarind. It's typically cooked without coconut milk, using firm fish (like tuna or mackerel), black pepper, chili powder, and a blend of aromatic spices. The fish is slow-cooked until the sauce is thick and adheres to the fish.
Key ingredients
Firm fish (e.g., tuna, mackerel), goraka (Garcinia cambogia), black pepper, chili powder, turmeric, curry leaves, rampe (pandan leaf), garlic, ginger, onions, cooking oil.
Optional tweaks
Naturally keto-friendly. Ensure no added sugar. Can request less oil if desired, but traditionally prepared with generous oil for flavor and preservation.
Say this to the waiter (Sinhala)
ෆිෂ් ඇඹුල් තියල් එකට සීනි දාන්න එපා. පුළුවන් නම් තෙල් ටිකක් අඩු කරලා දෙන්න.
For the Fish Ambul Thiyal, please ensure no added sugar. I'd prefer less oil, if possible.
Watch out for
Minimal. Some less authentic preparations might include a touch of sugar to balance sourness (though rare for Ambul Thiyal itself).
Macros are estimates for a typical serving and vary by restaurant. Confirm ingredients with staff, especially if you have allergies. Our ingredient lists are generated automatically and describe how a dish is typically made.
More on the Sri Lankan menuAll 177 Sri Lankan dishes ›
