Sri Lankans love coconut. Coconut trees are all over the country and coconut dishes are simply a part of our culture. We eat them from sweet to savory and this Pol (which translates to coconut) sambol is one of our spicy favorites. The first step is to make another beloved onion and chili sambol called lunu miris. The recipe is given below. You mix this with the fresh coconut and you have a delicious sambol that you can eat with bread, roti and many more Sri Lankan dishes.
Ingredients:1lb fresh grated coconut
1 1/2 cups lunu miris recipe (see below)
salt to taste
1 tsp black pepper
lime juice to taste (about 1/2 a lime)
Directions:
Prepare lunu miris with recipe below.
Mix luni miris with grated fresh coconut, black pepper and salt.
Add lime juice and mix well by
hand. Taste and adjust salt and lime as needed. Serve fresh or keep refrigerated until you serve. Enjoy.
Lunu Miris Recipe:
1 large onion cut finely by hand (do not use food processor)
2 Tbs red chili powder (or to taste)
1 Tbs red chili flakes
1 Tbs coarsely ground Maldive Fish (optional)
salt to taste
1-2 tsp lime juice (or to taste) - lemon juice can be substituted.
Note: You can use red, yellow or white onion in this dish.
Directions:
Finely
dice onion. Add all ingredients and use a mortar and pestle to smash
the ingredients down. If you do not have a mortar and pestle handy, put
in a shatter proof bowl and gently pound with a heavy bottom bottle.
Pounding the ingredients helps develop the flavor so this is a must.
Taste for salt and lime juice and adjust as needed. Serve with bread
and butter or with a variety of Sri Lankan dishes. Enjoy. 
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