Joanna James
The Maldives doesn't have an elaborate food culture but a simple and delicious one. The cuisine you will find on the islands is very utilitarian but prepared to perfection. The food culture in the Maldives has been heavily influenced by its neighbouring countries of India and Sri Lanka.
Garudhiya is a quintessential Maldivian cuisine. It is basically a simple fish soup made from fish, water and at times coconut milk – to make the dish creamier. Vegetables like murunga are sometimes added to the soup to make it heartier and more filling. The soup is generally served with some lime and rice. Properties like Holiday Inn Kandooma Maldives serve probably the best Garudhiya you can find anywhere.
Mas huni is a very common dish in the Maldives. It could be called a fish salad. It's prepared by shredding tuna and mixing it with onions, chilli and shredded coconut. Mas huni is very popular as a breakfast meal and is most often served with Maldivian chapati.
Masroshi is a popular street food and can be found on any of the inhabited islands of the Maldives. It can be described as a small chapati filled with shredded tuna and coconut, onions, and chilli. It goes really well with lime or a chilli dip.
Bis keemiya is another quintessential snack found in the Maldives, though probably not that unique to the islands. At its essence, it is a samosa filled with shredded tuna, hard-boiled egg, sautéed cabbage, and sliced onions. You can have it with a side of gravy, chilli dip or even tomato sauce, and it works well with all of them.
If you're in the mood for something quite unique on your trip to this tropical island, be sure to try boshi mashuni. It's a mix of a salad and a salsa made from banana flowers. Banana flowers have a very crunchy flavour when served raw. It's quite delicious when mixed with coconut, chilli and onions and served with a sprinkle of lime on top.
Yams are one of the few crops grown in the Maldives and as you'd expect are a big part of the local diet. One of the best ways to enjoy yams is undoubtedly as deep-fried chips. This is a very common snack in the Maldives and you're most likely to come across many vendors selling their own unique take on it – you'll find iterations of it even at the best restaurants in Maldives.
Sago is a very popular ingredient in the Maldives, and one of the best ways that it's prepared is as a dessert. The sago is warmed with coconut milk, laced with condensed milk and spiced with cardamom, cinnamon and rose – the result is a delicious dessert you can enjoy by the beach after a delicious meal.
Reef fish are very popular in the Maldives, mainly because they are quite abundant. The locals love to make little cutlets with reef fish. The fish is mixed with chilli and onions, made into little balls, dipped in a batter and breadcrumbs and then deep-fried.
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