Kiri Hodi: Sri Lankan Coconut Milk Stew with Boiled Eggs

Kiri Hodi is the Sri Lankan version of coconut milk stew, known in Kerala as Ishtu and in Malaysia as Sodhi. This delightful stew typically features a base of coconut milk, turmeric, fenugreek seeds, onions or shallots, green chilies, tomatoes, curry leaves, lime juice, and salt. From this foundational blend, you can modify or enhance the stew by adding various ingredients like vegetables.

In Sri Lanka and even Malaysia, Kiri Hodi or Sodhi is often paired with string hoppers, rice, and various side dishes. For this particular Kiri Hodi recipe, I’ve added boiled eggs. I’ve also experimented with other variations, incorporating prawns and spinach, cabbage, and a mix of brinjal and cauliflower. To enhance the aroma, I sometimes use pandan leaves instead of curry leaves.

How about adding your inventive ingredients or those you feel would suit your version of Kiri Hodi?

 

Usually, I pair Kiri Hodi with a spicy dish and a vegetable dish for our rice meal. Here is one combination: Kiri Hodi, prawn sambal, and snake gourd garlic stir fry (snake gourd, garlic, cumin seeds, salt, and oil).

Another favorite pairing is Kiri Hodi, sardine sambal, and carrot raita, also known as no-cook Indian carrot yogurt salad (grated carrot, chopped shallots, curry leaves, yogurt, and salt).

Kiri Hodi Egg Recipe

Ingredients

2 medium-sized tomatoes, sliced

1 large red onion, sliced into thin rings

1-2 green chilies, sliced into 3-4 pieces

1 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds

3-4 sprigs curry leaves

1/2 tbsp turmeric powder

1/2 tbsp lime juice (or to taste)

1 cup thick coconut milk

1 cup water

3-4 hard-boiled eggs

Salt to taste

 

Method

In a pot, combine the tomatoes, red onion, green chilies, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, turmeric powder, and salt.

Pour in 1 cup of water and let it simmer until heated through.

Add the coconut milk and lime juice, then gently place the boiled eggs into the mixture.

Stir lightly to heat through and remove from heat.

(Avoid overboiling to prevent the coconut milk from splitting, unless you don’t mind).