Wondering what to eat in the Maldives? In this guide to the Maldives’ foods, discover seven traditional dishes of Maldivian cuisine that you can taste in the Maldives or make at home using one of the linked recipes.
If eating like a local is your top travel priority, don’t miss the rest of our Foods Around the World series. We have food guides for China, France, Ireland, Japan, Latin America, the United Arab Emirates, and more global destinations for culinary travel.
Disclosure: This list of seven traditional Maldivian dishes contains some affiliate links. When you click on one of these links to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Why Visit the Maldives?
The Maldives is a South Asia archipelago in the Indian Ocean, consisting of approximately 1,200 tropical islands, southwest of Sri Lanka and India. Unfortunately, some of the low-lying islands are at risk of submerging, making the Maldives one of the world’s most beautiful places to visit before they disappear.
Renowned for its breathtaking landscape of white sand beaches, gently swaying coconut palms, and aquamarine water, the stunning natural beauty and the luxurious resorts particularly appeal to couples seeking a romantic honeymoon destination.
Perfect for travelers seeking tranquil luxury in a secluded beach destination, the Maldivian islands’ five-star resorts offer romantic overwater villas, award-winning spas, and unique culinary experiences like dining at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island’s underwater restaurant.
Although honeymooners will enjoy overwater views from their luxurious villas, the Maldives also offers thrilling underwater adventures. There are endless opportunities to snorkel and scuba dive among delicate coral reefs, colorful tropical fish, manta rays, nurse sharks, and more exotic marine life in the warm, crystal-clear water.
Of course, a trip to the Maldives should also be about experiencing the Maldivian culture, and one of the best ways to experience this is by trying the local food in the Maldives.
Find things to do in the Maldives:
What is Traditional Maldivian Cuisine?
Maldivian cuisine, also known as Dhivehi cuisine, is based on three main local ingredients of the Maldives: coconut, often grated or squeezed for its milk; seafood, especially tuna; and starchy foods, such as rice, cassava, yams, taro, screwpine (pandan), and breadfruit.
Though the main ingredients are native to the islands, traditional Maldives foods have influences from other South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines along the ancient spice trading route. Like other South Asian cuisines, Maldivian cuisine consists of curries, eaten with steamed rice or a flatbread.
Seven Traditional Maldives Foods
There is nothing like the feeling of sitting outside at one of the best restaurants in the Maldives with the sun setting in the distance and a delicious locally-sourced meal right in front of you.
In this Maldivian food guide, we’ll explore some of the most famous dishes of the Maldives to look out for on the menu. We’ve also linked to recipes, so you can cook these Maldivian meals at home or during your trip to the Maldives.
1. Mas Huni
Understandably, given that it’s an archipelago, the food of the Maldives often centers around fish. The seas here inspire chefs across the islands, and you can expect to see fish dishes on every menu. However, you might not have expected that to extend to breakfast.
Mas huni is a traditional Maldivian breakfast dish made of shredded smoked tuna mixed with grated coconut, lemon, onions, and green chiles.
Typically, it’s served with a chapati-style flatbread called a roshi. In some cases, you’ll also find vegetables, such as sweet potatoes or butternut squash, plus leaves from the moringa plant.
Though it might seem odd to you at first bite, the bread and coconut balance out the smoked fish flavor for a nutritious and hearty breakfast.
Want to make this Maldivian breakfast dish at home? Try this mas huni recipe!
2. Masroshi
Another dish of the Maldives featuring fish and bread is masroshi.
This traditional Maldivian dish contains a mixture of fresh tuna, coconut, curry leaves, and spices placed inside a chapati dough roll, before being sealed and then lightly fried in a pan to cook the bread.
Traditionally, masroshi is served as a snack. It’s perfect for when you’re out and about exploring the islands. Order a cup of tea on the side if you want to eat it the local way.
Try this masroshi recipe!
3. Garudhiya
While the Maldives tend to be hot all year-round, with temperatures staying around 30°C, every place has to have some rain to thrive.
When it’s raining, nothing is better than sitting with a bowl of comfort food, listening to the raindrops patter, reading a book, or enjoying a good conversation. Garudhiya is the ideal dish for this, and it’s a favorite with locals during the monsoon season, May through October.
The fragrant yet simple fish soup has a clear broth with chunks of skipjack or yellowfin tuna. Variations may feature dry chiles, onions, garlic, curry leaves, ginger, or other spices.
Though the broth is thin, garudhiya is typically served with steamed rice or sopped up with roshi for a hearty, but not heavy, meal.
Make Maldivian fish soup at home by following this garudhiya recipe!
4. Mas Riha (Maldivian Fish Curry)
As a traditional curry of Maldivian cuisine, mas riha features three staple ingredients of food originating from the Maldives — tuna, coconut, and starch.
Typically, this curry is cooked with skipjack tuna, but this fish curry may feature other tuna varieties, such as yellowfin tuna or little tunny, found around the Maldives.
However, what really makes this flavorful curry so delicious are the aromatic spices and the finishing touch of adding coconut milk for a creamy texture.
Traditionally, this Maldivian fish curry is served with rice or, when it’s eaten at breakfast, with roshi and tea.
Try this mas riha recipe at home!
5. Saagu Bondibai
If you’re a vegetarian, you might worry that there is nothing available for you to eat in the Maldives. Fortunately, that’s not the case.
Saagu bondibai, made from sago, the soft core of tropical palm stems, is a delicious and filling dish that appeals to vegetarians and meat eaters alike.
The sago is mixed with warm coconut milk, condensed milk, cardamom, and rose water, making it a delicate but tasty dessert. Especially in the heat, this tapioca-like pudding is incredibly refreshing.
Make this saagu bondibai recipe at home!
6. Aluvi Boakibaa
For those with a sweet tooth, aluvi boakibaa is a must-try delicacy in the Maldives. The light sponge is created with coconut and cassava.
Though cassava is known for having a potato-esque taste, the addition of the coconut ensures the cake simply tastes sweet, and it melts in the mouth.
It’s so popular that you’ll find it at almost every restaurant in the Maldives. Some places will serve it with whipped cream, fruit, honey, sugar, chocolate, or as an accompaniment to tea or coffee after a meal.
No matter what form you eat it in, you will love it.
Try this aluvi boakibaa recipe at home!
7. Fried Yams
You’re probably familiar with the taste of sweet potato fries; they’ve become commonplace in supermarkets and restaurants in recent years. In Maldivian cuisine, you’ll find a slightly different alternative: fried yams.
Yes, yams and sweet potatoes share some similarities. However, using yams in this dish results in a crispy outside and a starchier taste, which is more similar to russet potatoes.
If you like tubers and potatoes, be sure to try out this popular Maldives food when you’re in the archipelago.
Make this fried yams recipe at home!
Conclusion: Best Maldives Foods to Try
If your mouth is watering at the thought of any of these traditional Maldivian dishes, make sure to seek them out on your trip to the Maldives.
Start your day with a traditional Maldivian breakfast of mas huni. Later, snack on masroshi, and eat saagu bondibai or aluvi boakibaa for dessert.
Of course, traditional Maldivian foods will be best prepared in a local restaurant, or at least by a local chef. So, research local places to eat in the Maldives ahead of time and make a list of the best spots to visit.
For even more Maldivian food recipes, check out Cook Maldives. This cookbook shares recipes for mas huni, other traditional Maldivian dishes, and more popular foods from the Maldives.
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