The Romesh Ranganathan Show Telling Your Sri Lankan Mum You're Dieting...
Feb 26, 2026
A lively family chat about Sri Lankan recipes, picky opinions on chicken, and the comedy of trying to diet under a Tamil mum’s roof. They test accents, attempt impressions, and share awkward toilet tales. Practical cooking tips and cultural clashes pop up between the banter.
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Family Pumpkin Curry Recipe Passed Down
- Shanthi recommends pumpkin curry as a tasty vegan-friendly Sri Lankan dish made with coconut milk and spices.
- She says the recipe comes from her grandmother, passed down through the family, and offers to share it for a recipe book.
Teach Food Hygiene Kindly Instead Of Criticising
- Shanthi advises addressing risky food hygiene gently by saying you're learning and cooking with her so she doesn't feel criticised.
- She suggests showing the process step-by-step and using kind words so an older mother won't feel upset or defensive.
Discoveries Of Old Food In Kitchen Cupboards
- The panel recounts finding very old condiments in family cupboards, like mayonnaise from 2003 and a tuna tin kept near the plates.
- Shanthi defends checking dates and says she made sandwiches from the tins and everyone survived.