Joanna James
The Maldives may be known for its pristine beaches and luxury island resorts, but don’t forget it’s a culinary haven for seafood enthusiasts too. At this South Asian destination, seafood isn't merely sustenance, it's a culinary art form that draws inspiration from the ocean's bounty and the island's culture. When you visit the Maldives, here are five dishes made from the fresh catch of the sea that you should introduce your taste buds to.
Mas Riha is a Maldivian fish curry which embodies the essence of local cuisine. Freshly caught fish, often tuna, is cooked in a fragrant blend of ingredients including coconut milk, curry leaves, onions, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, hot peppers, and other exotic spices. The result is a harmonious symphony of flavours, where the richness of coconut intertwines with the robust taste of fish. It’s generally served with steaming rice or roshi (flatbread) making for a hearty meal that foodies are bound to love.
Garudhiya, a heartwarming soup or broth is a traditional dish which is popularly made at home while it can also often be enjoyed when dining at a resort-based seafood restaurant. Maldives culinary adventures will not be complete without savouring this dish which involves simmering freshly caught fish, generally tuna chunks, in water with only a handful of ingredients; usually, these are fresh chilli peppers, onions and pandan and curry leaves. This wholesome soup is served with roshi or rice along with sliced onions, fresh or fried chillies and lemon wedges.
The Maldives is famous for its fish-based curries each offering distinctive flavours that those who love seafood should try; one of these dishes is the well-known Kandu Kukulhu which interestingly, translates to ‘chicken of the sea’! It’s served at local eateries as well as restaurants of private island resorts like VARU by Atmosphere. This traditional tuna curry typically features tuna mixed with various spices and ingredients such as cardamom, ginger, cumin, scraped coconut, chilli, garlic, onion, and turmeric; these are all cooked in coconut milk which adds to the overall flavour as well.
Another traditional seafood dish, Kulhimas features spiced tuna and is well worth trying especially for those who love spicy cuisine. Like many local culinary creations, this one has quite a few added ingredients too such as hot peppers, cardamom, ginger, red chilli powder, black pepper, garlic, cumin, onions and more! The result is a dish with a medley of textures and flavours, best enjoyed with roshi. Some variations will also include the addition of coconut milk for a creamy taste.
While all the previously mentioned dishes have been centred around fish, for a change, here’s a traditional seafood favourite that features something different, namely octopus tentacles! To make Miruhulee Boava, fresh octopus tentacles are fried in oil along with onions, curry leaves and garlic; these are then added to a thick paste created by blending ingredients like peppercorns, chilli peppers, salt, and cumin. Once done, the octopus tentacles are braised over low heat before being usually served on a big platter.
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.
