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Koththamalli
Coriander and ginger brew
කොත්තමල්ලි (koththamalli): hot coriander seed and ginger brew sipped with a bite of jaggery for colds
At the first sniffle, many Sri Lankan mothers put a pot of koththamalli on the stove, and in Colombo offices and up in the damp hill towns during the monsoon you will see people sipping it from steel tumblers instead of tea. Coriander seeds are toasted, cracked and boiled with plenty of ginger until the water turns amber, giving a warm, earthy, slightly citrusy drink with a gentle ginger burn. It is traditionally drunk unsweetened with a piece of kithul or palm jaggery held in the other hand and nibbled between sips, though you can dissolve the jaggery in if you prefer. Grinding the seeds to powder is a mistake, because the drink turns muddy and gritty; they should only be cracked. Chef's tip: toast the coriander just until it darkens a shade and smells like orange peel; that is when the oils are at their best.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the brew
- 3 tbsp coriander seeds
- 4 cm piece fresh gingerthinly sliced
- 4 ¼ cups water
- 1 /2 tsp black peppercorns (optional)
To serve
- 2 ⅛ oz kithul or palm jaggerybroken into pieces
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Toast 3 tbsp coriander seeds in a dry pan over a medium heat for 2–3 minutes, shaking the pan, until a shade darker and fragrant.
3 minStep 2: Tip the seeds into a mortar and crack them lightly, with 1 /2 tsp black peppercorns if using; they should be broken, not powdered.
Step 3: Put the cracked seeds, 4 cm piece fresh ginger and 4 ¼ cups water in a saucepan, bring to the boil, then simmer for 10–12 minutes until the liquid turns amber and has reduced by about a quarter.
12 minStep 4: Strain into cups and serve hot with 2 ⅛ oz kithul or palm jaggery on the side to nibble, or stir it in to taste.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 60 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does koththamalli take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of coriander seeds?
- Ground coriander, same amount (add it later in the cooking; it burns faster).
- What can I use instead of fresh ginger?
- ¼ tsp ground ginger per tbsp fresh (add it with the spices).
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