Devilled Chicken: Why Sri Lanka Does Spicy Differently

The spiciest thing on the menu, and the one people get addicted to. What devilled actually means in Sri Lankan cooking.

If you see the word devilled on a Sri Lankan menu, that is the kitchen telling you something. It is the hottest thing they make, and it is also probably the dish their regulars order most.

What devilled means

Devilled is a technique, not a single recipe. Chicken, beef, or squid is fried, then tossed hard in a wok with onions, capsicum, green chillies, tomato and a thick, dark, chilli-heavy sauce. It comes out glossy, sticky and aggressive.

The word comes from British colonial cooking, where devilled meant heavily spiced. Sri Lanka took the term and then took the spice level somewhere the British never intended.

Why the heat feels different

Because it is dry heat, not sauce heat. There is no coconut milk or cream to soften it. The chilli is right there on the surface of the meat, hitting you immediately rather than building through a curry. It is sharp, direct and it does not let up.

How to eat it

Not on its own, and not as your only dish. Devilled is meant to sit alongside rice and something cooling. Get it with plain rice or a mild curry and it becomes balanced. Eat it by itself and you are just enduring it.

It is also excellent with a beer or a lime soda, for reasons that will become obvious.

Should you order it?

Not on your first visit. Get comfortable with the cuisine, then come back for this. When you do, order it with rice and a dhal, and you will understand why people are obsessed with it.

Try it in Scarborough

We are a family-run halal Sri Lankan and Indian kitchen in Scarborough. We can dial it down if you ask, but the devilled is meant to have teeth. Read how spicy Sri Lankan food really is, or what to order first.

See the full devil menu, including seafood devil for catering, or order online for delivery or pickup.

Our devils

Chicken Devil and Beef Devil are $12.99, Boneless Mutton Devil is $14.99, and for groups of 10 or more we make tiger shrimp devil, fish devil, kada (quail) devil and Thai lobster devil, priced on request. All are wok-tossed in our devil paste with onion and capsicum.

What to order at Blessed Kitchen

  • Kottu Roti, $13, with an egg omelette
  • Biriyani, $12, chicken, beef, mutton or vegetable
  • Chicken Devil or Beef Devil, $12.99
  • Chilli Chicken, $14.99, and Chilli Shrimp, $18.99
  • Boneless Mutton Devil, $14.99
  • Puttu Mixed, $20, with your choice of meat, dhal curry and coconut sambol
  • Coconut Roti, $12, or Roast Bread, $13
  • Fried Rice, $20 to $23, and Sri Lankan Noodles, $15
  • Paalandi Half Chicken, $40, for the table
  • Vattalappam, $15, and Mango Lassi, $6

How to order

Order direct for pickup or delivery, or call for catering.

Blessed Kitchen, 328 Passmore Avenue, Unit 59, Scarborough. All meat is zabihah halal.

Allergy notes

Some of our dishes contain egg (kottu, egg masala, watalappan), dairy (yogurt sambal), fish (maasi sambal is made with dried Maldives fish) and nuts (green pea cashew curry). If anyone has an allergy, tell us when you order and we will tell you what to avoid.

Frequently asked questions

How much is chicken devil?

$12.99.

Do you make seafood devils?

Yes, for groups of 10 or more, priced on request.

Is it halal?

Yes. Our chicken, beef and lamb are HMA-certified halal.