Foodies have much to enjoy on a visit to the Maldives and here are some insights into local cuisine worth knowing before you embark on a culinary adventure!
Main Ingredients
Three main ingredients are typically used for local dishes; coconut (be it in grated or liquid form), starches (including rice and sweet potato) and fish (mainly tuna). For a better understanding, properties like Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort have hands-on cooking classes where you can use such ingredients and make yummy dishes!
Fish & Seafood
Being an Indian Ocean nation, it’s not surprising that fish is a key element of cuisine in Maldives. Family resorts will often offer diverse fish dishes, many consisting of tuna be it skipjack, frigate or little tunny. Red or white snapper, wahoo and grouper fish are also cooked, while crabs, prawns and lobsters are popular too.
Maldivian Curries
A quintessential part of dining in Maldives is sampling the many curries it has to offer. As mentioned, fish is a much-loved choice and curries are no exception with kandu kukulhu made from tuna being one of the favourites. You also get chicken curry as well as those made from ripe mangos, pumpkin and eggplant as well.
Popular Dishes
Here are some other dishes worth sampling; made with shredded tuna and grated coconut, mas huni is a famed breakfast dish, while garudhiya is a spicy tuna-based broth. Don’t miss deep-fried snacks like biskeemiyaa and mas roshi along with desserts such as sevunaru kiru (vermicelli pudding) and Maldivian cassava cake!