Joanna James
Yes, it can be said that nothing can rival the beautiful scenes of the islands of the Maldives. This archipelago is well-loved for its amazing beaches of white sand, crystal clear waters and luxurious accommodation options such as Furaveri Maldives. While most travellers focus primarily on what was mentioned, the local cuisine is often overlooked. However, Maldivian dishes that are derived from Arabic, Indian, Sri Lankan and African origins offer a world of flavours to explore. Here are a few treats that you simply must try!
Known to be the Maldivian staple, this dish is more of a soup and is the ideal introduction to Maldivian cuisine. This is a clear fish soup often prepared with tuna as the main ingredient. Water is left on low fire to boil, once this starts steaming, the tuna is added along with salt, chopped onion and curry leaves. This mix is then left to simmer until the broth reaches the peak of flavour. This serving of soup is often paired with rice, lime and chillies which are added to to taste. Not only is Garudhiya light and easy to digest, but it is a dish filled with nutrients such as omega-3 for your daily dose of vitamins.
Mas Huni is the go-to breakfast for the Maldivians and is usually available for anyone to try at most restaurants in Maldives. Once again, the star of the dish is tuna! Shredded tuna is mixed with grated coconut, chilli, onion and salt. The mixture is also garnished with lime juice and zest for added flavour. Sounds yummy doesn't it? This fish salad-like filling is served with flatbread called roshi which complements the strong flavours perfectly.
This is one of the most delicious Maldivian snacks you could treat your taste buds to, perhaps while on a visit to a local island. Grated ginger, coconut, chopped onions, curry leaves, chilli, tuna and other spices are mixed together and separated into bite-sized balls of filling. This is then placed in smooth dough and fried to a crisp. This tasty bite is often found at local cafes and goes well with a cup of sweet plain tea.
Time and time again, these flavourful dishes tend to make tuna, abundant in the Maldivian waters, the base ingredient which in turn makes the local cuisine rich in nutrients. Even masroshi, another local flatbread is loved by both locals and visitors alike. The usual mix of tuna, grated coconut, onion and chilli is stuffed into the dough of the flatbread and baked on a skillet until golden brown. BBite into this treat which is a bit crispy on the top, while the inside is soft with enticing fish filling.
For those of you who are fans of all things seafood, dhon riha is yet another variant of the Maldivian dishes. This particular dish is a yummy fish curry that is prepared with tuna. Spices, onions, grated ginger and grated coconut are mixed together and blended into a paste. This paste is then put in a pot of water and kept on the fire. Once the water comes to a boil, the tuna is added along with the coconut milk. Once the fish is cooked, this curry is served with rich or roshi to be enjoyed.
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.
