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Looking for one of the finest holiday destinations in the world? You need to check out the Maldives. It’s a tropical paradise with pristine white beaches that line the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean, gorgeous lagoons, spectacular marine life, and some of the most lavish holiday resorts.
When visiting the Maldives, a country proud of its culture and heritage, the one thing you should not miss out on is Maldivian food that is full of character and made using the simplest of ingredients.
The thought of serenading your taste buds with authentic Maldivian food is undoubtedly enticing. You can always have unique local dishes at your resort restaurant, accompanied by a glass of wine. However, to truly relish the local food at its best, visit the inhabited islands for a taste of homemade recipes.
So, to experience the archipelago’s culinary side, sit down with a pen and paper and jot down the names of the best Maldivian dishes as we take you through the top 10 Maldivian foods every tourist should try.
Mas Huni – typical Maldivian breakfast
1 – Mas Huni
Mas Huni is the most famous Maldivian breakfast dish. Mostly served as a starter, the recipe consists of smoked and shredded tuna mixed with coconut and chilies with a dash of lime on top. Mas Huni is typically paired with Roshi – Maldivian flatbread that resembles an Indian chapati. Its nutritional value makes it healthy food to start your day and is also why local fishermen eat Mas Huni before their daily fishing expeditions.
The dish is such an integral part of everyday Maldivian life that you should not leave the island nation without tasting Mas Huni at least a few times. A true classic, Mas Huni is readily available in most cafes and restaurants of the Maldives.
2 – Bis Keemiya
Another Maldivian food you cannot afford to miss is Bis Keemiya, a popular snack that is texturally beautiful and oh-so-comforting to eat.
What is Bis Keemiya? Well, think of it as a combination of a samosa and a spring roll, filled with tuna, sliced onions, a hard-boiled egg, sauteed cabbage, and seasoned to perfection. Are you salivating yet?
Unlike a triangular samosa, Bis Keemiya has a more square-ish look but is equally flavourful. It also showcases how the Maldivians can create some exceptional bites with so very few ingredients. You can get Bis Keemiya at traditional teahouses around Hulhumale and Malé. These cafes open at 8 am and close at 10 pm.
A terrine of fish curry – typical Maldivian main dish
3 – Fish Curry
Like several other foods in the Maldives, fish curry traces its origin to the coastal regions of India and Sri Lanka. At first glance, Maldivian fish curry is basic but promises a kind of palatable robustness in its flavors that makes you want to have it repeatedly.
Among the fishes used in an authentic Maldivian fish curry are little tuna, skipjack tuna, wahoo, and frigate tuna. The dish is usually served alongside rice or Roshi.
4 – Boshi Mashuni
A popular salad, Boshi Mashuni is served as a starter in Maldivian restaurants and households. Often, it comes as an accompaniment to Maldivian main dishes, such as fish curry. I’m sure you’re wondering what’s so special about a salad. Right?
Boshi Mashuni consists of crunchy shredded banana flowers mixed with fresh coconut, cumin, turmeric, and curry leaves. The result is an aromatic concoction that is both refreshing and light. To give the salad a tangy twist, some chefs either put chilies and lime in the salad or send them as a condiment so that guests can add them as per personal tastes.
Gulha – typical Maldivian evening snack
5 – Gulha
Most locals have Gulha and other short eats as a snack after the evening prayers while conversing with each at the local teashops. This particular bite-sized dumpling contains tuna, onions, grated coconut, and chili.
Once you pop the Gulha into your mouth, it’s like experiencing an explosion of tastes. The coconut’s vibrant freshness, the tuna’s chew meatiness, and the chilies’ kick give it a unique profile. Eat is along with a hot cup of tea for maximum gastronomic pleasure.
6 – Garudhiya
Garudhiya is the most famous Maldivian food, one that is regularly cooked in households. A simple in appearance clear fish soup, the recipe for Garudhiya includes using tuna as the base ingredient in addition to salt and water. Typically, Maldivians use kanneli (yellowfin tuna), goda or kandumas (skipjack), latti (little tuna), and raagondi (frigate tuna). Occasionally, chefs on resort islands might substitute tuna with mahi-mahi or wahoo.
The cooking of Garudhiya is done slowly over a very low flame. It takes a couple of hours to prepare the dish, but the result is an irresistible signature taste. For a traditional touch, pandan, onions, and curry leaves can be added. Rihaakuru, made by continuously cooking Garudhiya, is a Maldivian fish paste and a local specialty you have to try.
Saagu Bondibai – typical Maldivian dessert
7 – Saagu Bondibai
Saagu Bondibai is a Maldivian dessert made by mixing sabudana or sago with coconut milk and condensed milk. An intensely sweet and creamy taste to Saagu Bondibai is achieved by cooking it over a low flame. Although there are ample vegetarian options in the Maldives, this charming and delicious eat is definitely the perfect way to end your meal.
Kulhi Boakibaa – typical Maldivian fish cake
8 – Aluvi Boakibaa and Kulhi Boakibaa
Kulhi Boakibaa, as it is called in Dhivehi, is a savory fish cake while Aluvi Boakibaa is sweet cassava. The yin and the yang of short-bites, they both appeal to different sections of our taste buds. Kulhi Boakibaa, made by baking rice, onion, curry leaves, turmeric, lime, and smoked tuna, has a distinct spiciness to it that is very appealing. Aluvi Boakibaa, on the other hand, has a delightfully soft disposition and goes really well with tea.
Aluvi Boakibaa and Kulhi Boakibaa are exciting snacks to try. Earlier, both the dishes were reserved for special occasions in the Maldives, but nowadays, they are easily available in cafes and teashops.
Huni Roshi (chapatti bread) – typical Maldivian flatbread
9 – Huni Roshi
Huni Roshi is your typical chapatti bread with a Maldivian touch. Wondering what it is? Well, it is a flatbread with coconut flecks. Coconut is added to the dough, which is then cooked on a flat pan until the exterior is slightly crispy. Huni Roshi is moderately thicker and firmer than a Roshi and is served alongside Garidhiya, fish curries, and even Mas Huni.
10 – Fried Yams
Yams are one of the few crops grown regionally in the Maldives. Fried yams are extremely popular among the Maldivian people. As expected, fried yams are crunchy on the outside with a moist interior. An alternative to traditional potato chips, fried yams are accompanied by different sauces for a more flavourful experience.
These 10 must-have Maldivian foods are just the tip of the iceberg. There are still plenty of street foods to savor and discover in the Maldives during your perfect island holiday.
