Every culture swears by its dishes and home remedies for hangover cures. So, I decided to put out a call for recipe submissions to try everyone’s top hangover cures. Tahiri from Sri Lanka taught us a bit about drinking culture in Sri Lanka, and she introduced us to kottu, a street food made with roti flatbread, vegetables, and lots of spices in a curry-like sauce. This dish is usually spicy, and it was actually even spicier than I expected, which left me needing a glass of water. 

According to Tahiri, many people in Sri Lanka like to go out and dance and drink Allegan beer. They tend to drink with their friends and family for a few hours, and then by 2 or 3 am, they all go to eat kottu as a hangover cure. The warm bowl of kottu with pieces of roti, veggies, and spices perfectly soaks up all of the alcohol and will make you feel good as new. 

The most important part of kottu is the roti. Roti is a buttery flatbread that originated in India, and without it, the kottu is no longer a kottu. The roti is super soft and mild in taste, making it a great match for the flavorful seasonings and veggies in kottu. Tahiri also believes that even though the flavor of kottu is fairly strong, it is also very easy to like. Everyone can enjoy kottu since there are so many different variations. You can get a bowl with different proteins, eggs, or even cheese. There is always a kottu for everyone.  

When I made kottu at home, my entire house was filled with the delightful aroma of spices. The dish was definitely spicier than I expected it to be, and my mouth was tingling from all of the chilies, but I loved the mix of flavors and the soft and fluffy bread. Kottu definitely seems like it would work for one of those horrible headache hangovers that would normally affect your entire day.