Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

Maldives

Food in the Maldives is built around tuna and coconut in every form — smoked, curried, shredded — with rice, roshi and chili. Look for Garudhiya (clear tuna broth over rice with lime, chili and onion), Mas Huni (shredded smoked tuna with coconut, onion and chili, scooped with roshi) and Valhoamas (tuna boiled, smoked and sun-dried into hard blocks that keep for months). Clear skipjack tuna broth eaten with rice, lime, chilli and onion; the base of Maldivian cooking, resting on the islands’ tuna fishery. This atlas has 27 Maldives dishes catalogued below, from everyday cooking to food kept for festivals and special occasions.

27 dishes.

Aluvi BoakibaaAluvi BoakibaaDense baked cake of grated cassava, coconut and sugar, cut into squaresAsaaraAsaaraChopped mango, chilli and lime cured in oil and salt into a sharp pickleBajiyaBajiyaMaldivian samosa stuffed with tuna, coconut and onionBis KeemiyaBis KeemiyaFolded pastry parcel of tuna, cabbage and boiled egg, deep-friedBondiBondiWhite sticks of grated coconut cooked with sugar and rolled firmBoshi MashuniBoshi MashuniShredded banana flower with coconut, chilli, onion and limeDhonkeyo KajuruDhonkeyo KajuruRipe banana mashed with rice flour and coconut, then deep-fried into golden frittersFihunu MasFihunu MasFish basted with chili paste and grilled over coalsFoni BoakibaaFoni BoakibaaBaked sweet cake of rice, coconut and palm sugar, cut into squaresGarudhiyaGarudhiyaClear tuna broth over rice with lime, chili and onionGulhaGulhaFried dough balls filled with smoked tuna and coconutHikimasHikimasSkipjack tuna boiled, smoked and sun-dried into hard blocks, shaved into dishesHuni RoshiHuni RoshiThin flatbread kneaded with grated coconut, cooked dry on a griddleKalhu SaiKalhu SaiStrong black tea taken sweet, drunk with short eats in the afternoonKandu KukulhuKandu KukulhuTuna simmered in coconut milk with curry leaves, chilli and pandanKavaabuKavaabuFried balls of tuna, rice and coconut spiced with curry leaf and chilliKulhi BoakibaaKulhi BoakibaaBaked savory cake of rice and smoked tunaMas HuniMas HuniShredded smoked tuna with coconut, onion and chili, scooped with roshiMas RihaMas RihaMaldivian tuna curry with curry leaves and coconut milkMaskurolhiMaskurolhiPounded paste of tuna, coconut, chilli and lime eaten with rice congeeMasroshiMasroshiFlatbread stuffed with tuna, coconut, onion and chilli, griddled until charredMiruhulee BoavaMiruhulee BoavaOctopus tentacles braised in curry spices and coconut oil until tenderRaaRaaSweet coconut palm sap tapped fresh at dawn and drunk before it fermentsRihaakuruRihaakuruThick brown paste from long-boiled tuna, intensely savoryRoshiRoshiThin griddled flatbread eaten with nearly every mealSaagu BondibaiSaagu BondibaiSago pudding with coconut milk, cardamom and rose waterValhoamasValhoamasTuna boiled, smoked and sun-dried into hard blocks that keep for months

  • Bajiya

    Maldivian samosa stuffed with tuna, coconut and onion. Ready in 45 min prep and 20 min cooking. Makes 16. A…

  • Aluvi Boakibaa

    Dense baked cake of grated cassava, coconut and sugar, cut into squares. Ready in 30 minutes prep and 1 hour…

  • Asaara

    Chopped mango, chilli and lime cured in oil and salt into a sharp pickle. Ready in 30 min prep and…

  • Bis Keemiya

    Folded pastry parcel of tuna, cabbage and boiled egg, deep-fried. Ready in 50 minutes prep and 25 minutes cooking. Makes…

  • Bondi

    White sticks of grated coconut cooked with sugar and rolled firm. Ready in 20 min prep and 40 min cooking.…

  • Boshi Mashuni

    Shredded banana flower with coconut, chilli, onion and lime. Ready in 40 minutes prep and 15 minutes cooking. Serves 4…

  • Dhonkeyo Kajuru

    Ripe banana mashed with rice flour and coconut, then deep-fried into golden fritters. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 20…

  • Fihunu Mas

    Fish basted with chili paste and grilled over coals. Ready in 30 minutes prep and 25 minutes cooking. Serves 4.…

  • Foni Boakibaa

    Baked sweet cake of rice, coconut and palm sugar, cut into squares. Ready in 25 minutes prep and 1 hour…

  • Gulha

    Fried dough balls filled with smoked tuna and coconut. Ready in 40 min prep and 20 min cooking. About 24.…