Gotu kola(pennywort)sambol.

A green salad with chopped Gotu kola and freshly scraped coconut gives you one of the healthiest salads in Sri Lankan cuisine.

Gotu kola is also known as Pennywort and can be added to any curry menu.

This simple green salad idea is a vegetarian, vegan dish you can mix with your rice and curries to give you an instant wholesome meal.

Adding the simple green salad at least once or twice a week will help you reap all the health benefits of this herb.

How I like to eat my Gotu kola sambol.

If you are not a vegetarian or vegan, you can simply add a large spoon of hot rice, loads of this green leafy sambol, drizzle a spoon of good ghee, mix and eat.

I usually do this while cooking lunch and that will keep me full for a few hours.

You can add a piece of dry fish or sprats but really, who needs it if you have a bowl of green goddess goodness.

If you do follow a strict plant-based diet, add olive oil, avocado oil or any light plant-based oil with extra lime and you have a healthy, filling lunch bowl.

Utensils and appliances

Chopping board/knife.

Large bowl or plate to mix in the ingredients.

FAQ: GOTUKOLA SAMBOL

Choosing and buying Gotu kola(pennywort).

A word of caution- Usually you can find Gotu kola in bundles or chopped and prepacked.

When buying Gotu kola bundles.

Make sure to check the leaves, are freshly picked and the leaves are clear of dark spots.

When buying prepacked Gotu kola.

Make sure to check the expiry day and packed day, and the state of the leaves, if they have even a slight tinge of brown, do not buy. 

On rainy days, avoid buying any type of leafy vegetables that are grown close to water, for that matter avoid any type of green leaves that can be turned into raw salads on such days. 

Substitute for Pennywort.

The closest substitute would be kale and flat-leaf parsley.

Save the recipe to pinterest

More green leafy salads.

Spinach and coconut salad.

recipe difficulty-easy

Ingredients to make gotu kola salad

The ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.

A bundle or a pack of Gotu kola(Pennywort).

1/2 a cup of freshly scraped coconut

1 medium-sized tomato chopped fine

2 small green chillies chopped

5-6 red shallots sliced fine(use regular onions if you can’t find shallots)

Salt to season

2-3 tablespoons of lime juice

How to make Gotu kola(pennywort salad)sambol.

If you are using fresh bundles of Gotu kola. remove the leaves with the soft stems included.

Wash and drain the leaves completely in a colander or large strainer.

Once drained, chop the leaves thin and fine.

If you are using prepacked and chopped leaves follow the next step in the recipe instruction.

Place the leaves in a large bowl, add the fresh coconut(1/2 cup), chopped green chillies(2), tomatoes(1), onions(5), salt to season and finally the lime juice as required.

Combine all ingredients well for a few minutes.

Taste, and season with salt if necessary.

Each recipe on this blog has been written with great care and love to the best of my ability with you in mind.

It’s free and on the blog, for you to try anytime.

All I ask is that you do not save it on any apps, recipe boxes or online groups which will affect me as a food blogger and the growth of this blog.

I would appreciate it if you only share the link rather than the full recipe. 

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