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Best Mallung in Chicago
“Meals are served with one or two different mallungs, which play an important part in nutrition in the Sri Lankan diet.”
What the real thing tastes like
Mallung or mallum (Sinhala: මැල්ලුම්), is a shredded vegetable Sri Lankan dish that comprises lightly cooked/sautéed greens, with fresh coconut and any number of spices and chili. Mallung is a common condiment and is eaten at almost every meal. Meals are often served with one or two different mallungs, which play an important part in nutrition as this is how locals maintain a regular vitamin intake in their diet. The word 'mallung' or 'mallum' simply means 'wilted'. The central ingredient of mallung is a leafy green vegetable, finely shredded and combined with a standard set of ingredients to enhance and support their flavour. Different plants are used to make mallung including cassia, passionfruit leaves, watercress, or water spinach leaves. In western countries leafy vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, chard, and kale are used as substitutes for traditional Sri Lankan greens. Additional ingredients include chopped green chillies, chopped shallots, chopped curry leaves, crushed garli
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Mallung is the everyday green that anchors Sri Lankan meals—finely shredded leaves wilted with coconut, chilis, and spices, served as a vital condiment one or two at a time. It's how Sri Lankan home cooks maintain their vitamin intake, built from native greens like gotukola, kankun, and mukunuwenna, each bringing their own bitter, medicinal edge to the plate.
Order it here when it has
- nutritionally essential
- versatile green base
- flavor-enhancing spices
- traditional preparation
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