Joanna James
The food in Mauritius is influenced by many communities; Indian, Chinese and Creole cultures all come together to offer a vast range of delicacies! One will rarely get bored with the myriad of options available here!
Curries are a central element in Mauritian cuisine because of the large Indian communities present in Mauritius. However, they depart quite significantly from classic Indian curries. Typical Creole-based curries will include onion, garlic and curry leaves as the base and may use fewer spices. It is often paired with rice, roti or bread, and is not as spicy as most Indian curries. Some of the famous curries consumed include chicken curry, chicken and potato, fish curry and octopus.
Farata is quite similar to the famous Indian flatbread – paratha – and is eaten with curries and chutney. Another popular flatbread is Roti Chaud, which is also eaten with curries. Most of these are made from atta flour, wheat or whole wheat flour, butter or ghee.
Alouda is another variant of the famous Indian treat, Falooda. The drink has pink or green coloured milk, cubes of jelly made from agar-agar, basil seeds and is topped with a generous amount of ice cream. The milk is flavoured with almond essence. Indian sweet shops are known for their rose-flavoured variants.
This is one of the tastiest street foods found in Mauritius, where crispy and oily fried flatbread gets stuffed with a mixture of spiced split peas. It is eaten along with curries, chutney and pickles. It can be found all over Mauritius, as it is a popular dish among the street-side vendors of the island. Even Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas or similar other venues boasting the best restaurants in Mauritius will offer treats similar to this dish.
Also called Gateaux Coco, coconut cake is a sweet treat quite unlike the typical cake! Coconuts are utilised by Mauritians on a large scale in their cuisine – from sweets to chutneys – and are an important part of their culture. This cookie-like mixture is made from grated coconut, boiled sugar syrup and food colouring.
Another popular street dish found in Mauritius is fried noodles. A simple but tasty dish, the noodles are fried in soya sauce and garnished with lots of chilli and fried onions. This Chinese- food-inspired dish is typically available at most stalls in China Town, a place you have to visit while in Mauritius.
Also called 'Millionaire' salad', Hearts of Palm Salad is an island delicacy. The key ingredient is the arm-sized rhizome found inside the palm trees. The trees have to be a specific age for the palm to be harvested – generally seven years. The trunk is also sliced and consumed as an appetiser! The salad includes the heart of palm, fresh lettuce, olive oil, lemon juice, pepper and salt. Light and refreshing, this dish tastes like something between asparagus and artichokes!
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.
