Joanna James
Maldivian cuisine is said to be heavily influenced by its immediate neighbours, in terms of flavour, ingredients and spices. Here are some must-try dishes while you're in the archipelago!
If you're in the Maldives, brace yourself for a lot of tuna! Tuna is a popular fish that is loved by the majority in the Maldives and tuna curry is a rather traditional dish. Made with a combination of tuna, coconut, curry leaves, coconut milk, onions and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and turmeric. This creamy dish brims with flavour, and if you love fish – you won't be disappointed.
This dish is for carb lovers! Usually consumed as an evening snack, Masroshi is a stuffed and fried dough made with salt, warm water, flour and oil. Inside this scrumptiously made dough ball, you'll find fillings of all sorts. Usually, it is a combination of tuna, hot peppers, onions, garlic, ginger, curry leaves and limes. The dough balls are flattened before frying, giving them a more flat-bread-like look.
As the national dish of Maldives, expect to see Gulha quite often in cities such as Male, the capital. Gulha is hard to miss; a pastry ball smaller than the size of a fist, deep-fried and stuffed with smoked fish, onions and coconut. You'll find Gulha readily available at small cafes and is best accompanied by a hot cup of tea!
Chunks of fresh tuna, slowly simmered in water over the course of a few minutes, with additions such as chilli peppers, pandan leaves, curry leaves and onions is what Garudhiya is. This soup is appetizing and a staple in Maldivian culture. Most of the best restaurants in Maldives, even those in resorts such as Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences make it a point to prepare this nourishing soup.
Typically eaten for breakfast, Mas Huni is made with tuna, shredded coconut, onions and hot chilli peppers with a sprinkle of salt and pepper for seasoning. Mas huni is usually eaten with huni roshi, which is a Maldivian flatbread. Mah huni is best served cold, while the flatbread is freshly made so tends to be warm. A hot cup of sweetened tea completes the equation!
Another popular snack to devour is fried yams are quite similar to potato fries but have a sweeter taste to them. You'll find this in many cafes and restaurants and can be enjoyed with a range of different sauces.
Despite the name, the lobster is very much unalive! The unique twist is that the lobster is cooked right in front of you, so you know it's fresh. In fact, the fresher the lobster, the softer its meat.
Made from boiling saagu seeds, this dish is amazing for vegetarians. Prepared together with coconut milk, condensed milk, rose essence and cardamom – you already know this dish is going to be lip-smackingly good!
A hit snack among Maldivians and tourists, these cutlets contain a combination of tuna, onions, eggs, potato and seasoning. This is best enjoyed freshly fried!
Mis Keemiya is the Maldivian take on spring tolls. This delectable fried pastry contains tuna, hard-boiled eggs, cabbage and onions.
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A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
