The Maldives offer a rich culinary experience like no other, having taken its early influences from a variety of cultural sources spanning the Indian Ocean, the happy result of ancient trade routes between the Maldives and its maritime neighbours. The island nation’s sumptuous curries and excellent seafood dishes are the freshest of the fresh, made from local produce harvested directly from the land and surrounding sea.
The Maldives has many wonderful dishes and culinary traditions to share with its lucky visitors, when you dine at a sea restaurant Maldives you will be delighted by the attention to detail in the spices and preparation methods along with a wholesome dose of natural goodness!
Let’s now virtually sample some of the delicious gourmet repasts that make the Maldives such an amazing place to eat!
Kukulhu Riha – This is what curry is all about, a creamy coconut-based soup that is perfectly spiced with curry leaves, cardamom, and fiery chilli peppers! This curry lover’s dream can be served with fresh fish or chicken braised to perfection. The mouth-watering results are enjoyed over a bed of gorgeous steamed rice, or eaten with a delectable rothi pancake. You can wash it all down with a glass of lime juice and soda, the perfect thing if the chilli has left a burn!
Garudhiya – Most popularly served during winter because of its restorative qualities, this fragrant fish soup can be enjoyed year-round and should be, why would anyone want to go without this uniquely satisfying dish for very long? This liquid marvel’s base is a clear broth that takes its flavouring from garlic, ginger, lemon juice, and back pepper. The bubbling soup pot is then filled with bite-sized chunks of skipjack or yellowfin tuna, and topped off with chopped chilli and grated coconut. This soul-soothing soup is served with a side of steamed rice or a rothi pancake, which you can use to mop up any delicious residue left behind in your sure-to-be-empty bowl!
Kulhi Boakibaa – You have probably tried the ‘small eats’ called tapas, and like most hungry people, loved them, so this is your chance to sample the Maldives’ unique version of these terrific little snacks! These tasty fishcakes are concocted from ground-cooked rice and tuna meat, which is then bolstered by adding a healthy portion of grated coconut, a dash or two of golden turmeric powder, aromatic grated fresh ginger, and rich curry leaves. All of this wonderful stuff is then bound together into a large, circular, pancake-shaped fishcake that is placed in a traditional clay oven and baked to a perfect crispy golden brown! When they come out of the oven the crisp-edged and savoury fishcakes are sliced into easy-to-eat pieces and washed down with kalhu sai black tea, a local favourite. You won’t be eating just one, so relax and stay a while!
There are many more amazing culinary wonders to be found on the Maldives‘ menu, your best bet is to hurry up and visit so you can try them all for yourself. The beaches are pretty nice, too!