Sri Lankan Style Arugula Sambola (Arugula Salad)

This arugula sambola is another recipe I developed in my Sri Lankan kitchen.It came out as a crunchy and delicious raw greens recipe which is also healthy.

In Sri Lankan cuisine you will encounter many different raw leaves sambola recipes. These are usually called as sambola. Some of very popular such recipes are gotukola sambola, Aguna kola sambola and thebu kola sambola. This Arugula Sambola is similar dish but I created in my Sri Lankan kitchen. It came out so delicious! So, I want to share this Sri Lankan style arugula leaves sambola specially for the Sri Lankans living in other countries across the world.

Why I make Arugula Sambola?

There is a reason for me to cook this Arugula Sambola or raw salad in Sri Lankan style. Usually Arugula is an ingredient in western or other cuisines. It is perfect for many raw salads. Arugula is perfect for garnishing too same as in this Asparagus with lemon dressing recipe.Therefore I buy Arugula when I want to try other cuisines. But, I had an issue with leftover arugula.

Most recipes need few arugula leaves, then the whole pack lies inside the fridge until I find another recipe. As a Sri Lankan home, most of our weekday cooking is with our traditional recipes. Until the next weekend comes, there is no time to make another dish with Arugula. Finally, part of the leaves will wither and not suitable to use! It is a complete waste.

This is why I was thinking of how to use Arugula in a Sri Lankan recipe. With its crunchy raw taste, I presumed that Arugula may not taste nice when cooked. Therefore I decided to try it as a raw green sambola.

It came out delicious. As we cannot easily find green leaves that are suitable for Sri Lankan sambola recipes, I am very happy with this new recipe. Now I have one more side dish to our meal with raw Arugula leaves.

If you can easily find Arugula, try this recipe. You will sure like the taste!

Here is the Sri Lankan style Arugula Sambola Recipe.

Arugula Sambola Recipe

Ingredients (for 3-4 servings)

Handful of Arugula Leaves

½ cup fresh grated coconut

3-4 small red onion/shallots sliced

2-3 green chili sliced

Salt to taste

1 tbspn lime juice

Method

Step 1:

Wash and clean Arugula Leaves.  

Drain water.

Slice Arugula Leaves in to thin pieces but not very thin.

Slice onion and green chili.

Step 2:

In a bowl, mix fresh coconut, onion, green chili and salt together with lime juice. You can check the taste at this time and adjust salt if necessary.

Then Add sliced Arugula Leaves on it.

Mix all together gently just before you are ready to eat.

Don’t mix hard as Arugula Leaves are more delicate. A delicious Sri Lankan style raw salad is ready to serve with Arugula Leaves.

Also check this fenugreek leaves salad recipe which is also developed in my kitchen to match the Sri Lankan taste buds.

If you try this Arugula sambola,let me know.I’d like to know your experience.