How to spot the best local cuisines in Maldives

Malaysia is fast becoming one of the most popular beach getaways anywhere in the world. Every year, thousands of tourists – honeymooners in particular – travel here to enjoy the tropical sun and relax along white-sand beaches. If you're one of them, don't forget to try out the amazing local cuisine the Maldives has on offer – in fact, here's how you can spot the best traditional dishes found on the island.

Eyes on the Coconut

As with many coastal communities, coconut is an integral part of Maldivian cuisine as well as everyday life. Coconut trees are grown on every island in the Maldives – it has even been recognised as the country's official tree! So, how exactly is it used in Maldivian cuisine? Well, the key to the coconut's prevalence in island cuisine is its versatility. It can be grated, shaved to form a liquid, be deep-fried and produce oil – to name a few of its uses. Coconut milk is also an essential component in a majority of Maldivian cuisine – especially in curries and sauces. What's more, coconut is a strong fixture in a variety of fruit-based mixtures termed mocktails. So, when you sit down at a restaurant and prepare yourself to set forth on your culinary adventure to discover Maldivian cuisine, be sure, to begin with, some coconut-centric dishes.

Seek Out Maldivian Specialties

Moving on from rustic coconut dishes, it's time to get to dive deep into the Maldivian culinary world and try out some island specialities. Most of these dishes are based around a selection of fish and meats, alongside fresh local fruits – which include coconuts – and an array of spices. Mas Huni is one of the most popular Maldivian signatures. It is essentially a fresh salad made of tuna and freshly grated coconut. The dish is then seasoned with an array of spices and given a healthy squirting of lime for added zest. Mas Huni is often cited as the favourite breakfast of all Maldivians, well if that's the case, Garudhiya is essentially the nation's daily staple. This is a fragrant fish soup that's enjoyed by Maldivians in all walks of life, during any time of the day. Served hot with rice, lime and plenty of chillies, the soup is packed with flavour and character. So, at a beach resort Maldives has on offer, such as the Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, be sure to treat your palate to these island delicacies.

Add Some Curry

During your stay in the Maldives, you'd be remiss to not seek out some of the fantastic curries the islands have on offer. Curries are in fact some of the most popular dishes you'll find here in the Maldives, with locals often enjoying one with chapati or plate of rice for company. As with most Maldivian food, fish and coconut are at the heart of most curries. You'll want to keep an eye out for dishes like mas Riha - a delectable combination of tuna, coconut and chilli.

Out on the Streets

Finally, be sure to cap off your culinary journey through Maldives by sampling some of the islands' fantastic street food. The packed streets of Male are full of street vendors, small restaurants and peddlers selling some of the tastiest and unique you'll find in Asia. Some highlights to watch out for include delicacies like the bajiya. This is a sweet pastry that's stuffed with fish, coconut and onions. That combination of flavours might seem a bit odd at first, but it'll all start making sense after your first bite. Theluli mas is another classic. It is essentially fried fish that's slathered in chilli and garlic sauce. Then there's kavaabu – these are deep fried versions of the islands' biggest hits – fresh fish, coconut and chicken!