Dine with Maldivians

Savour the Exotic Flavours of Authentic Maldivian Cuisine

Join a local Maldivian family and your guide for an authentic Maldivian dinner in their home. Maldivian meals include the staple ingredients of fish, coconut and chilli.

Rice and curries have also become an integral part of Maldivian food. Your dinner will provide the opportunity to savour the exotic flavours of authentic Maldivian cuisine not often found in local restaurants.

Around the table you can share your thoughts about the cooking process, learn more about the Maldives or you could learn some useful words that you can use during the remainder of your holiday. In the traditional way your evening will finish on the beach with coffee under the stars!

Maldivian cuisine is heavily influenced by Indian, Sri Lankan and Arabic flavours.

The sweetness of coconut is paired with starch to create hearty meals, and, of course, fish abounds.
Skipjack tuna is the most valuable fish in the country, and the source of dried “Maldivian Fish” synonymous with the islands. Various types of tuna, wahoo and mackerel are also widely used. Curry, called “riha” in the Maldives, is usually accompanied with roshi — a version of India’s flattened bread.
The most popular curry cooked in the Maldives includes fresh tuna and is known as “mas riha”.

Kukulhu riha (chicken curry) is cooked with a different mixture of spices.

Vegetable curries in the Maldives include those that use bashi (eggplants), barabō, (pumpkin) chichanda (snake gourd) and muranga (moringa oleifera) as well as green unripe bananas and certain leaves as their main ingredients.

Most resorts offer cooking classes for those who would like to take a few recipes home.