Tempting Dishes and Drinks to Try in the Maldives - A foodie's guide

Often described as the culmination of a curry puff and samosa, Bis Keemiya is also comparable to a spring roll. With a filling that features sautéed, cabbage, spicy onions, and hardboiled eggs the Bis Keemiya are surrounded by a pastry that is both soft and flaky. Delectable on the palate and easy to prepare, the snack is a party favourite in the Maldives. It is a recipe those who are interesting in trying to make Maldivian snacks should definitely try. Served in resort restaurants the likes of Kuramathi Maldives the pastry is the perfect team time accompaniment.

This salsa meets salad dish is a less popular dish in the Maldivian cannon but no less impressive in terms of taste and flavour. A traditional Boshi Mashuni is made using banana flowers which are blanched to perfection before being added to a mix of spices and fresh coconut. Cumin, curry leaves, and turmeric are used to colour and flavour the salad which is also considered a healthy meal in Maldivian cuisine.

The fragrant fish broth is the perfect dish for those who love dashi and or even Japanese miso. Garudhiya requires fresh tuna as the fish variety is easily available in the country. As a very traditional meal option in the Maldives, the citrus and spice mix used in the soup gives the broth its unique umami flavour. Fresh tuna is cubed and cooked in water with onion, chilli and garlic and seasoned with fried onions. Garnished with a hint of lime, the soup is consumed in nearly every Maldivian home daily although one is less likely to find it in restaurant menus in any Maldives villas or hotels.

Sago fans will find no better dessert after a Maldivian meal than the succulent Saagu Bondibai. This conventional pudding is a big part of the Maldivian diet as the health benefits of sago are well-documented. Infused with coconut milk, sago pudding is made by adding cardamom, rose water and even condensed milk to create this scrumptious dessert.

Fish cakes are a popular snack item around the world but the Maldivian version of this snack is a different menu item altogether. Kulhi Boakibaa is a short eat is fried to perfection and is a combination of both tuna and coconut, which features heavily in Maldivian cuisine.

As a staple during weddings and special celebrations, the short eat features a crunchy filling made of potatoes, lentils, peas and coriander and dried fish. Curry powder and onions give the Bajiyaa its distinct taste which is comparable to a samosa in shape but not in flavour.

Yet another influence of Indian cuisine, the flavoured lassis you get on these islands are to die for, and what's more, they are the perfect drink to have to cool you down after a sunny day out.