If you are a foodie and planning on travelling to Maldives, there is so much to explore in terms of cuisine. The locals use amazing spices, tropical fruits and the freshest catch from the ocean to create absolutely magical dishes.
image via https://www.reethifaru.com/
Maldivian Cuisine
In the past, the main ingredients used in local cuisine were coconut, millet, fish, breadfruit and tubers. With the passing of years, Maldivian cuisine evolved and became better and better with new methods of cooking. Coconut, fish, starch, grains and vegetable are used in almost every dish, try to taste the individual flavours of these elements when you dig in.
Coconuts
Known as ‘kurumba’ in the local language, coconut is available in abundance in Maldives and did you know that it is a cultural symbol as well? Coconut is used in dishes in various forms like oil, milk and shavings to add an earthy taste to the meal.
Seafood Dishes
Fresh seafood is readily available with the waters rich in marine life surrounding the islands. The most popular ingredient that comes from the ocean would be tuna. Most of the Maldivian dishes are centred around this star ingredient. If you are dining at an overwater restaurant in Maldives, you may also come across taste bud tingling dishes with mahi mahi, mackerel and wahoo.
Starches & Curries
Sweet potato, cassava, taro, screwpine and breadfruit are a few of the starches used in local cuisine. They are either boiled, fried and screwpine is eaten raw. When it comes to curries in Maldives, peppers, chillies, onions and spices enter the scene. Coconut milk is also used to make fish and chicken curries. If you do want to taste local cuisine, Vakaru, a restaurant at Reethi Faru Resort hosts a Maldivian Night every now and then where they focus on local dishes.
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