I came to surf. I stayed for the food.
Not the fancy stuff. The colours. I made it my mission to eat the rainbow. Every shade. Every day. Sri Lanka makes that surprisingly easy. If you are a cook-at-home person, Ahangama is your playground.
At The Purple Jungle we stack the odds in your favour. Each cabana has its own kitchen, just for you. There is a little herb garden for guests to snip from. We keep fresh fruit on site so you can grab something sweet between emails and waves. Fuel on your terms.
Why Sri Lanka is a cook’s dream
Produce is seasonal here. It changes month to month. Rain, sun, and the success of the farming season decide what is in your basket. You will rotate between watermelon, mangoes, pineapples, passion fruit and more. Avocados have a perfect window too. Miss it and you will be staring at a rock. Hit it and you will be spreading green gold on toast like a millionaire. Oh and its all organic so you won’t see any “perfect” shapes here.
If you are savvy it is also very affordable. Learn the shops. Learn the rhythms. Your gut and your wallet will thank you.
My weekly food ritual
Twice a week I do the Ahangama Market loop. I bounce between little shops and stalls to get everything I need.
I made a map with pins so you can do it without guesswork. Subscribe to the Purple Jungle newsletter to get the download, plus a note on what each spot sells and when to go.
Pantry power-ups you can find locally
Beyond the fresh stuff, you can stock a solid, healthy pantry without hunting for unicorns.
- Pumpkin seeds
- Chia seeds
- Fresh ginger
- Fresh turmeric
- Honey
- Dark chocolate
- Dates
- All the nuts!
- Herbs like rosemary, rocket, mint, coriander
Pro tip
Fresh turmeric plus ginger, a sprinkle of black pepper and milk makes the best golden milk. Recipe is coming to the blog. It is simple, anti-faff, and tastes like a hug.
Where to buy what
Ahangama Market and local shops – Sign up to newsletter to get these sent to you!
Your first stop for fruit and veg. Best prices, best freshness, best chat.
Cargills
Western-leaning supermarket. Handy for frozen bits and branded staples. Pricier than the market, but convenient.
Gusta
When you crave Western comfort. Sourdough, cheese, meat, coffee. Lovely quality at a premium.
Rolling Pin
Pastry heaven. Opens at 6am. Grab a pain au chocolat or apple pie before a dawn patrol. No regrets, only crumbs.
Feeling lazy?
Order a few things via delivery apps. You will not get everything, but you will get enough to keep dinner honest.
Cooking at The Purple Jungle
This is why we gave every cabana a kitchen. You can eat clean without drama. Chop a mango. Tear up some mint. Toast pumpkin seeds. Stir chia and oats into coconut milk and park it in the fridge for overnight oats. Fry eggs in coconut oil or salty butter and call it a celebration. When the wind picks up, you are still eating well.
Ideas that never fail
- Breakfast bowl with curd, pineapple, passion fruit, chia and honey
- Herb omelette with rocket and a side of avocado when it is ripe
- Turmeric ginger golden milk in the evening
- Dark chocolate squares for dessert because balance
A few simple rules that make eating here easy
- Buy seasonally. If it is everywhere, it is probably perfect.
- Touch and smell. Choose with your senses.
- Shop little and often. Heat is not kind to produce.
- Wash and prep when you get home. Future you will love you.
- Keep salt, pepper, oil, and chilli on hand. Flavour is five seconds away.
The quiet joy of colour
Eating the rainbow sounds like an impossible feat until you get here and then notice how you feel. More energy. Better sleep. Calmer mood. You step into the water lighter. You work sharper. You recover faster. It is not magic. It is food that grew under sun and rain, cooked simply, eaten without fuss.
Finish a beach day with a plate that looks like a festival. Sit on your deck. AC humming if you want it. Hammock waiting when you are done. This is the south coast rhythm. Clean food. Clear head. Salt on skin.
If you want the market pins and my rotating shopping list, hop on the newsletter. I will send the map, notes on what is in season, and that golden milk recipe the minute it drops.
Otherwise I’ll see you out there catching some waves – yeeeeeow
