Pol Sambol Quiz: Sri Lanka's Coconut and Chili Relish

This pol sambol quiz grinds the bright red coconut relish found on Sri Lankan tables. Play 10 interactive questions on freshly grated coconut, red chili, shallots, lime juice, salt, umami-rich Maldive fish, the grinding stone, what pol means in Sinhala, and pairings with hoppers, string hoppers, rice and bread.

Start Pol Sambol Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Country
Which country is pol sambol from?
Pol
What does pol mean in Sinhala?
Coconut
What form of coconut is used?
Color
What gives pol sambol its red color?
Onion
Which onion is commonly added?
Sour
Which ingredient adds sourness?
Fish
What is Maldive fish?
Stone
What traditional tool grinds the mixture?
Hoppers
Which bowl-shaped pancakes pair well with it?
String
What are string hoppers?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which country is pol sambol from?
Answer: Sri Lanka
It is served daily.
Q2: What does pol mean in Sinhala?
Answer: Coconut
It names the main ingredient.
Q3: What form of coconut is used?
Answer: Freshly grated
Scraped fresh is best.
Q4: What gives pol sambol its red color?
Answer: Chili
Chili flakes or powder are used.
Q5: Which onion is commonly added?
Answer: Shallots or red onion
It is chopped finely.
Q6: Which ingredient adds sourness?
Answer: Lime juice
It brightens the flavor.
Q7: What is Maldive fish?
Answer: Dried cured tuna
It adds savory depth.
Q8: What traditional tool grinds the mixture?
Answer: A grinding stone
It crushes flavors together.
Q9: Which bowl-shaped pancakes pair well with it?
Answer: Hoppers
They are called appa.
Q10: What are string hoppers?
Answer: Steamed rice noodle nests
Pol sambol is spooned beside them.

Coconut, Chili and Lime

Pol sambol is a Sri Lankan relish whose name comes from pol, the Sinhala word for coconut. Freshly grated coconut is mixed with red chili, finely chopped shallots or red onion, lime juice and salt, giving a bright red color and fresh, spicy flavor.

Many cooks add Maldive fish, dried cured tuna, for savory depth. Traditionally the ingredients are crushed together on a grinding stone, which blends the flavors better than simple mixing.

Pol sambol is served daily with hoppers, the bowl-shaped pancakes called appa, string hoppers made of steamed rice noodle nests, rice and curry, or bread. It is quick to make and found on almost every Sri Lankan table.

What This Quiz Teaches

Food fans will enjoy these questions.

What pol sambol is
Which ingredients it uses
How it is made
What it is served with
What its name means

Did You Know?

Vegetarian versions skip the fish.
Coconut scrapers are common at home.
Lunu miris is a spicier onion sambol.
Spice levels vary by family.
Kiri bath pairs with sambol at New Year.