Joanna James
Maldivian food is a fusion of flavour from both its neighbouring countries – India and Sri Lanka. With fish being a staple in the Maldives, you will also find coconuts being used in the majority of their dishes. Here are some of the best dishes you can taste while holidaying in the Maldives!
This meal is a typical Maldivian breakfast and is made with tuna, chilli, onion, and grated coconut. All the ingredients get thoroughly mixed into the coconut. The mas huni gets paired with roshi, their popular flatbread and washed down with a cup of sweetened tea. It is considered a light and quick breakfast for the Maldivians. Other ways of preparing the dish include adding a mixture of greens to substitute the fish partially or completely. This is usually during times when the fish supply lessens. It is further prepared by mixing the flesh of freshly boiled moringa pods with the rest of the ingredients. These traditional dishes can be sampled in many of the island resorts as well, for instance, you may try in places like Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort, as well as in other Maldives beach villa options on the island.
Maldivians love their tea-time snack foods and this is one of them. If visiting Male, you will come across many lovely treats. Biskeemiya is one of them, it is a pastry packed with tuna, hard-boiled eggs, fried cabbage, onions and spices. It is a popular food item found in many of the inhabited islands, notably in Male. This favourite snack food is broadly obtainable in street-side cafés in Male.
Sago is a favourite ingredient in the Maldives and is made into a dessert referred to as saagu bondibal. The sago gets soaked and boiled in coconut milk. The sago pearls release their starches to create a thick mixture. The hot pudding is aromatic and sweet as it is blended with a range of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon and rose essence. The pudding gets served with sweetened condensed milk and is eaten hot.
The vegetarian counterpart of the fish curry, Tharukaaree Riha, is an equally delicious variation from the fish-based dishes you will find in the Maldives. The curry includes vegetables such as carrots, beans, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. The curry sauce is enriched with fresh coconut milk, a variety of spices, pandan leaves and curry leaves. The curry can be consumed for lunch with a bowl of steamed rice or the traditional flatbread, roshi for a filling meal.
Tea is very popular in the Maldives and is drunk with meals in cafes and restaurants. There are various choices for you to pick from; nevertheless, the most popular is black tea. The tea is also popular with milk and sugar. Maldivian Iced Tea is a known favourite such as the Maldivian Jasmine Tea, which is commonly drunk and has a light and fresh aroma and taste. Tea is found in many tea shops and is very common in populated islands such as Male.
Most alcoholic drinks are not allowed within the Maldives, however, Raa is quite popular among the locals. Raa is fermented palm wine. This age-old drink is made from the tapped sap of coconut trees and is left to ferment. Raa has around 4% alcoholic content. In some instances, the sap is left to ferment longer to create a sour taste.
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