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sri lankan fish roti ready and plated for serving

Sri Lankan Fish Roti Recipe

Make authentic Sri Lankan fish roti at home—crispy flatbread stuffed with spicy tuna sambal. Perfect for snacking, lunchboxes, meal prep, and party platters.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Rest Time for Dough 30 minutes
Servings: 12 fish roti
Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Dinner, late-night snack, Lunch, short-eats, Snack
Cuisine: Sri Lankan
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

For the Dough
  • 1 ½ cups all‑purpose flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • lukewarm water as need
For the Filling
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • few curry leaves chopped
  • ½ tsp ginger & garlic paste
  • 1 medium onion sliced
  • ½ cup leeks sliced
  • ½ small tomato diced
  • 1 green chili sliced
  • salt as need
  • ½ tsp chili flakes
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp black pepper powder
  • ½ tsp Kashmiri chili powder
  • 1 can chunk light tuna drained
  • 2 medium potatoes boiled and peeled

Method
 

Step 1 — Make the Dough
  1. Combine flour, salt, and 1 tbsp oil in a bowl.
  2. Add water gradually and knead until a smooth dough forms.
  3. Add another tbsp oil and knead until slightly sticky and soft.
  4. Divide into small dough balls (timbit size). Place them on a plate, drizzle remaining oil over them, cover, and rest for 30-60 minutes.
  5. Resting makes the dough soft, stretchy, and easy to roll thin.
Step 2 — Make the Filling
  1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium‑high heat.
  2. Add curry leaves, ginger, garlic, and onions. Sauté until they turn soft and golden.
  3. Add leeks, tomatoes, green chili, chili flakes, turmeric, black pepper, chili powder (if using), and salt. Cook for a few minutes to soften.
  4. Add the tuna and boiled potatoes. Mash the potatoes and mix the fish gently to keep some chunks intact. Once everything is combined well remove from heat.
  5. Variation: Swap tuna for ground beef, shredded chicken, or keep it just veggie by adding more colorful plant-based ingredients.
Step 3 — Shape the Roti
  1. Roll each dough ball into a thin circle, keeping the center slightly thicker.
  2. Add a spoonful of filling to the center.
  3. Fold three sides to form a triangle (or fold into squares/rectangles).
  4. Press edges to seal tightly.
    step by step how to make the sri lankan fish roti
Step 4 — Cook the Roti
  1. Heat a skillet over medium‑high heat.
  2. Place roti folded‑side down and cook until golden brown. Flip and cook the other side as well.
  3. Rotate and cook the edges to ensure even cooking.
  4. Repeat with remaining roti.