In Sri Lanka, we don’t really “do” Mother’s Day the way the West does. No beautiful bunches of flowers, no fancy brunches. But here’s the thing: Mums are celebrated in the way we live, in the stories we tell, and—most importantly—in the food we eat.
Whether we're a bio mum, a step mum, an auntie mum, a grandma mum, a mentor mum or a stepping up to the task mum, we all have the same superpower, unconditional love (and the ability to find anything you've lost in 0.5 seconds).
If you ask me, every time mum or amma (අම්මා in Sinhala அம்மா in Tamil) makes your favourite meal without you asking, every time she says, “eat first, talk later,” instead of “I love you,” and every time she waits up for you, even though she swore she wouldn’t, just to make sure you got home safe? Yeah, that’s love. So lets celebrate them. These people that make home feel like home. Cook for her, hug her (if she allows it) and tell her she’s appreciated—even if she just laughs and says, “Aiyo, what’s all this nonsense?” Because let’s be honest—she deserves it.
Sri Lankan culture and folklore is full of strong, selfless women. I’ve picked the best known but also my favourite, the story of Sita.
Kidnapped by King Ravana and taken to Sri Lanka (from India), Sita refusers to betray her husband, Rama despite being held captive. After a long battle, she is rescued and their journey back home is celebrated by the lighting of little lamps (now celebrated as Diwali). After finally being reunited, Rama, she wasn’t accepted and was forced to prove her purity. In the end, she chose exile, raising her twin sons in a forest by herself. To me this isn’t just some distant historical tale—it’s a reflection of the archetypical mum everywhere!
Food is The Real Love Language of Sri Lankan Mums
Okay, so as Lankans we might not say “I love you” as much as we should but you know what we do instead? We feed people. Mums have a way of knowing exactly what you need. Feeling a bit run-down? Have some Kola Kanda (a herbal porridge). Long day? Here’s a plate of hot Kiri bath (milk rice). They don’t ask, they just know. So, if you’re looking for a way to show your love back, make something for her for a change. (If you’re lucky, she might just smile and say, “Not bad.” Which coming from a Sri Lankan mum, that’s basically the highest form of praise).
I've included two of my favourite recipes, a healthy Kola Kanda (herbal porridge) recipe, easy to whip up and delicious as breakfast.
What you need:
- 1 cup gotu kola (or any leafy greens- I used spring greens)
- ½ cup cooked red rice
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1 small piece of jaggery (or honey)
- A pinch of salt
How to make it:
- Blend the gotu kola with a couple of tbsp of the cooked rice and some water until smooth.
- Strain the juice and mix it with coconut milk.
- Heat it gently, but don’t boil it (Amma will tell you this ruins the nutrients).
- Stir in the cooked red rice, jaggery, and salt.
- Serve warm and drink up—bonus points if you don’t make a face while doing it.
A far more indulgent Wattalapam, A cardamom spiced coconut custard recipe.
What you need:
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup jaggery, grated
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
How to make it:
- Beat the eggs lightly and mix with the coconut milk.
- Add grated jaggery, cardamom, nutmeg, and vanilla.
- Pour the mixture into ramekins or a heatproof dish, add it to a oven proof tray filled with water and bake for about 30-40 minutes dependent on how set you like it.
- Let it cool and serve chilled (if you can wait that long).
Happy Amma Day!
xx
Aliza
💛 💛
