Listly by Joanna James
The terms "variety" and "colour" best describe the food and beverages that one will have the privilege of delighting in when holidaying in the Maldives. Here is a list of what to go for.
Seen more of as a snack, this fried delicacy combines sautéed cabbage, sliced onions, a hardboiled egg or tuna and is one amazing & flavourful pastry that will be lip smacking good.
Mas Huni is one that goes well with chapatti and brings together smoked tuna, grated coconut, onions and lemon in an excellent spread which is perfect for breakfast.
Also called 'Boshi Mashuni,' this offering is more a crunchy take on your average salad with tinges of lime, Maldivian chilli and curry leaves enhancing the sensation of biting into the fresh coconut and banana flowers.
For some smoked tuna, chapatti roti & coconut, make a beeline towards Hulhumale's Lonuveli Restaurant or Male's Café Rio which serves hungry travallers Masroshi.
Nowhere else will you be able to taste a fish soup as good as in the Maldives with Garudhiya appearing a worthy contender for being treated as one of the best in this region. What's more? This dish is commonly found in Maldivian households.
Smeared in lime to add that extra dimension of zest and flavour, nothing quite beats tucking into lobster cooked right and served straight to your table.
Using the freshest reef fish available, these cutlets that also combine coconut, mint chutney and cucumber as accompaniments are a treat worth every penny.
Remaining on the subject of snacks, Gulha is a dumpling that has a filling of grated coconut, onions, chilli and of course the best tuna in town.
This sago pudding uses a mixture of coconut milk and condensed milk and is completed with rose and cardamom to provide vegans with a simply mouthwatering treat.
Made by boiling fish for a longer period than normal, Rihaakuru is actually a fish paste that goes well with pieces of roshi and is one of the traditional food varieties that is found here.
This smoked tuna cake is very popular at your Maldivian café and features a good helping of scraped coconut, rice and onions.
Bite into your own slice of heaven with some Alavi Boakibaa which is a form of coconut cake that is made to melt in your mouth. Satisfy your cravings with this local sweetmeat.
Kiru sai (milk tea) and black tea (kalhu sai) are easily had, especially when residing at Maldives island restaurants that can be found at Heritance Aarah. A complementing sweet or savoury snack can never be overlooked either.