How to eat like a local in Maldives

Absorbing the food culture is one of the most interesting aspects when you are travelling to another country, and that gives anyone a mind-blowing experience. When in the Maldives, this experience is extra impressive. With its most delicious food items and food habits, dining in the Maldives like a local will grant beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. Go through this guide to have a basic idea, you will get to learn a lot more when you actually have the experience.

Their meals are fish-based!

When the Maldives is a country that's more about the sea, how can you expect its food culture to forget fish and other seafood? The Maldives is an amazing destination if you love seafood in their freshest forms.

Simple breakfasts

Breakfasts in the Maldives are always delightful. People in the country have been used to a simple and light meal in the morning and they generally have 'Mas huni' with 'Roshi/ roti'. Even the luxury restaurants in Maldives prepare this traditional Maldivian dish- Mas huni for their guests and this means a beautiful combination of tuna, onion, coconut, and chilli.

Lunch and dinner

People in the Maldives are serious about their lunch. They either prepare the dishes of 'garudhiya' or 'rihaakuru' for their lunch, and the same is generally applied for their dinner as well. Garudhiya is a simple fish soup that's more liquid and colourless. But, rihaakuru is slightly different and is a little more of a complicated recipe compared to garudhiya. It's a sticky dish which is brown and has a salty taste. You can enjoy both the dishes with plain rice, and if you wish, you can also add some side dishes as well.

Maldivian snacks

People in the Maldives will not be satisfied with just tea in the evening. They always need something to have with their tea. That's where Maldivian snacks come in. 'Hedhika' is the name they have given for their snacks in their local language, and there are many popular snack items that you can try out when you are there. Snacks also contain tuna most of the time and often are stuffed with other ingredients as well. These snack items can be smaller in size, but you will definitely love them all.

The desserts

Since the Maldives is a Muslim country, you get to taste the best festive desserts during the Ramadan season. Bis Haluvaa is one such dessert that is very popular, and you will be able to get an idea of this dessert by its other name 'Maldivian sliced custard'. They also enjoy a pudding called the 'Maldivian sago pudding' which is known as 'Saagu bondi bai'. These are there available at any restaurant you will come across and according to the sub-ingredients they add, the tastes sometimes differ from one another.

Eating in the Maldives

Needless to say, the Maldives is a paradise for travellers. So, to enjoy their food cultures, you can either visit one of their resorts the likes of Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, a good restaurant, a café, or a tea shop. Generally, there is a wide selection of food items for you to choose from Thai to Indian, but it'll always be the best to opt for traditional Maldivian cuisine at least once or twice during your tour. People in the Maldives do not generally go out to have meals, and they, instead, prepare their own dishes at home. But when they do go out, they tend to have delightful chats with their friends while having meals.