Joanna James
Maldivian cuisine is quite underrated. Unlike Indian, Chinese, or Vietnamese food, it is not seen as a go-to international cuisine in most places. However, once you've tried it, you will be back for more. Here are a few authentic Maldivian dishes that you must try.
Bis keemiya is essentially a patty stuffed with a delicious filling. The texture of the patty is somewhere between a spring roll, samosa, and a puff pastry. It is flaky, crispy, and delicious. The filling is made of cabbage, egg, and onion. Each component is cooked in unique ways to bring out great flavours and textures. This is a great dish you can have as an appetiser or as a snack at any point of the day. If you are hungry, about half a dozen of them will even make for a great meal. During your time at OBLU Nature Helengeli make sure you try Bis keemiya at least once.
This is essentially a salad made out of banana flowers. Any of Maldives all-Inclusive resorts will offer this in their buffet and other restaurants. It is a fresh, tangy, and delicious dish that can be eaten as a starter. It will be sure to fire up your appetite. The banana flowers are cooked very mildly to ensure that they are still crispy and tossed with coconut, spices, onion, lime, and Maldivian chilli. This combination of flavours gives the dish a truly exotic flavour that will make your taste buds sing. It is a dish that you should try out.
Who doesn't like a perfectly balanced fish soup? This is exactly what you can expect in a good Garudhiya The main fish used for this is fresh tuna. The fish is first cooked with a variety of condiments and spices such as curry leaves, onion, garlic, and chilli. How well you cook the fish ultimately determines its final taste. The soup is also seasoned with fried onions and lime to give it a nice hearty finish. If you are generally a fan of miso flavours, this is a dish that will be sure to impress you.
Sago is an ingredient that is rarely used in the western world but is widely celebrated in Asia. This sago pudding which is an authentic Maldivian dessert will make you rethink sago in a whole new way. The pudding is made creamy with delicious coconut milk which makes it completely dairy-free. It is flavoured with strong yet flavourful spices such as cinnamon and cardamom and rose water. However, to add extra flavour and thickness some people also include condensed milk.
This is the Maldivian version of coconut flatbread. This is thin flaky bread that is extremely simple to make. It is crispy on the exterior and soft inside. Sometimes it even tends to puff up once you put it on the pan. While you can eat them as a quick snack with some hummus it is best paired with a Maldivian dish such as the Garudhiya or some other kind of broth.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
