10 Most Popular Food in Maldives

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Located in the Indian Ocean, Maldives can be a perfect tourist destination if you are looking for a tropical vibe. Coral reefs, white sandy beaches, and series of coconut trees make the Maldives a magical tourist spot to enjoy spicy food. People of Maldives call their local cuisine as “Dhivehi Cuisine.”

This particular cuisine is dominated by ingredients like coconuts, sweet potatoes, papayas, mangoes, fish, lobster, chicken, and so on. If you are a gourmet, you will appreciate the delicacies Maldives has to offer.

1. Keemiyaa

This traditional dish of Maldives is pretty popular among tourists. The dish is made of Tuna, Flour, Onion, Peas, Garlic, Ginger, curry leaves, and so on. You can add mustard seeds, pepper, lemon juice, etc., to the dish of Keemiyaa. Here, the Keemiyaa dough is topped with tuna mixture, and finally, it is properly deep-fried.

Recipe for Keemiyaa

2. Masroshi

This is actually a Maldivian snack served in breakfast and dinner. It features a delicious tuna filling inside. The dish is prepared with smoked tuna, hot peppers, garlic, ginger, lime, grated coconut, and so on. After making the dough with flour, people make a ball filled with the tuna filling, and later they flatten it. Finally, you will have to deep-fry the Masroshi.

Recipe for Masroshi

3. Kukulku riha

This is a traditional curry-based recipe that is pretty popular among tourists in Maldives. The dish of Kukulku riha will take several hours to be digested. The local chefs use various ingredients in the recipe, such as chicken, onion, ghee, coriander, ginger, garlic, lime juice, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, and so on. For this dish, the chefs use dry-roasted spices.

Recipe for Kukulku riha

4. Mas Riha

This is a rich fish curry which you can find in Maldives only. This Maldivian fish curry is made with fish and coconut mainly. You can use either tuna or swordfish for this delicious recipe. This recipe of Mas Riha includes several vegetables and spices. These are onion, garlic, cauliflower, ginger, bell peppers, etc. You can serve the dish with rice at any time you want.

Recipe for Mas Riha

5. Kulhimas

This Kulhimas is also another tuna fish recipe. The dish is generally served with typical homemade flatbread. The entire dish is cooked on a low flame. This way, the aroma of the Kulhimas will remain in the pot. The main ingredients of Kulhimas are tuna fish, coconut, hot peppers, garlic, cumin, red chili powder, etc. Here, the tuna fish slices are marinated with a smooth paste of spices.

Recipe for Kulhimas

6. Gulha

These are more like pastries that are deep-fried. This Maldivian short-eat recipe is filled with tuna mixture. The local chefs of Maldives make the dish of Gulha with chopped chili, onion, curry leaves, lime juice, grated coconut, and so on. The Gulhas are served in every Maldivian festival and occasion. You might like the Gulha with hot Maldivian tea or sai.

Recipe for Gulha

7. Fried yam

This is one of the crunchiest snacks you can get in Maldives. Yams are more like sweet potatoes, and these can be way starchier than them. Full of vitamins, the fried yams are generally served with a dip, sauce, or drink. Each and every cafĂ© in Maldives sells this fried yam. 

Recipe for fried yam

8. Maldivian Live Lobster

This mouth-watering lobster recipe is ideally cooked in front of the customers, and these are served in sizzling hot conditions. In Maldives, the dish can cost you a maximum of 400 MVR. In restaurants, professional chefs prepare this seafood delicacy. The lobsters feature a bright orange color, and you can see the soft, tender flesh of lobster coming from the shell. Savor this dish in Maldives with some delicious sauce.

Recipe for Maldivian Live Lobster

9. Reef fish cutlet

The reef fish cutlet is prepared in Maldives with freshly cut tuna fish. To cook the reef fish cutlet from scratch, you will need green chilies, eggs, salt, boiled potato, black pepper, and other spices. Coconut chutney or papaya chutney will go pretty well with the reef fish cutlet. These cutlets are served in the form of small balls.

Recipe for reef fish cutlet

10. Mas Huni

This is nothing but a breakfast recipe served with smoked tuna. This running Maldivian dish is prepared with shredded tuna fish, onion, coconut, chilies, etc. The Mas Huni is the ideal example of the flavors of Maldives. If you are willing to spend only 50 MVR, you will get to taste good quality Mas Huni.

Recipe for Mas Huni

Sources:

Thrillophilia

Taste Atlas