When vacationing in the Maldives, it is easy to stick to international cuisine as it is what you are familiar with. However, make sure to be adventurous and try out Maldivian cuisine which focuses heavily on fresh local ingredients.

Satdeep Gill, Maldivian dish – Kandu Kulkulhu 13, CC BY-SA 4.0

Culinary Influences

When at establishments such as Huvafen Fushi Maldives, it is apparent that Maldivian cuisine has been influenced by its neighbouring flavours. Thus, one can easily pick out the Sri Lankan, Indian and Arabic influences when tasting this cuisine. But there are also traditional dishes that are unique to the Maldives such as Garudhiua which is a fish soup.

Maldivian Ingredients

When visiting restaurants in the Maldives, one can easily see that all these establishments focus on the same ingredients. That is because when it comes to Maldivian cuisine, the most important ingredient is fresh seafood. The taste of seafood is further amplified through the use of local spices such as pandan leaves, chilli and curry leaves.

Unique Culinary Experiences

By being the epitome of luxury, Maldives offers many unique dining experiences to its guests, such as underwater dining. However, if one instead wishes to learn the art of Maldivian cooking one can also attend cooking classes to learn from local experts. If staying in the Maldives for some time, then it is possible to visit local markets and try your hand at these dishes from the comfort of your home.

Wellness Embodied by the Cuisine

While Maldivian cuisine is mouthwatering it is not in any way unhealthy. By focusing on fresh and local ingredients this cuisine promotes a healthy diet. Thus, it is a cuisine that one can try guilt-free as it combines both wellness and taste.