southern-asia

Maldives

Explore 31 foods connected to Maldives, from everyday staples to rare local specialties.

31 foods12 leading categories1 Essentials guides

Start with Baipen →

The local shortlist

Maldives Essentials

7 editor-selected foods for understanding the place through what people eat.

Open the guide →

Big local categories

The full directory

Traditional foods from Maldives.

31 foods in this view. Filter by category, type, rarity, or search every recorded name.

SearchCategoryTypeRarityOrder

Clear

Filters

SearchCategoryTypeRarityOrder

Clear

31 foods

Page 1 of 1

Maldives

Baipen

ބައިޕެން

Rice congee cooked soft and smooth, served with maskurolhi (tuna and coconut chutney) — a comforting Maldivian breakfast or light meal.

PorridgeUncommon

Maldives

Bajiya

ބަޖިޔާ

Maldivian samosa — triangular pastry filled with smoked tuna, onion, and coconut, deep-fried until golden and crisp, the local version of the Indian samosa.

PastriesCommon

Maldives

Bis Keemiya

ބިސް ކީމިޔާ

Cross between a samosa and a spring roll, filled with tuna, hardboiled egg, sliced onion, and sautéed cabbage — a light, crispy Maldivian short eat.

PastriesCommon

Maldives

Bis Riha

ބިސް ރިހަ

Maldivian boiled egg curry — hardboiled eggs simmered in a spiced coconut milk gravy with onion, curry leaves, and chili, eaten with roshi or rice.

CurriesCommon

Maldives

Bondibai

ބޮނޑިބައި

Sweet sticky rice pudding cooked in coconut milk with sugar and cardamom — a Maldivian festive dessert, especially for celebrations and the birth of a child.

PuddingsCommon

Maldives

Dhonkeyo Kajuru

ދޮންކޭޔޯ ކަޖުރު

Banana fritters flavoured with vanilla and rose water, dipped in batter and deep-fried until golden — a Maldivian sweet snack served hot.

Street SnacksCommon

Maldives

Fathafolhi

ފަތަފޮޅި

Traditional Maldivian short eat of dough wrapped around a tuna and coconut filling, fried or baked — part of the hedhikaa family of tea-time snacks.

PastriesUncommon

Maldives

Fihunu Mas

ފިހުނު މަސް

Whole tuna or reef fish gutted and stuffed with chili paste, grilled over charcoal until charred — the ultimate Maldivian lunch by the water.

Grilled MeatsCommon

Maldives

Foni Boakibaa

ފޮނި ބޯކިބާ

Sweet rice flour and coconut cake baked until golden — the sweet counterpart to kulhi boakibaa, a tea-time dessert across the Maldivian islands.

Cakes & CustardsCommon

Maldives

Garudhiya

ގަރުދިޔަ

Tuna is simmered with water and salt into a clear broth served with rice, lime, chilli, and onion.

SoupsCommon

Maldives

Gulha

ގުޅަ

Small deep-fried pastry balls stuffed with smoked tuna, grated coconut, onion, and chili — the iconic Maldivian short eat, sold at hotaa cafés with sweet tea.

PastriesCommon

Maldives

Hakuru

ހަކުރު

Coconut-palm sap is reduced into a thick Maldivian sweetener used in desserts and breakfast dishes.

Honey & SyrupsUncommon

Maldives

Huni Hakuru Folhi

ހުނި ހަކުރު ފޮޅި

Coconut and palm jaggery pancakes — grated coconut cooked with hakuru (palm jaggery) wrapped in a thin batter, a traditional Maldivian sweet.

PancakesUncommon

Maldives

Kandu Kukulhu

ކަނދު ކުކުޅު

Tuna fillets are rolled around curry paste and simmered in coconut milk until the spirals hold together.

CurriesUncommon

Maldives

Kashikeyo

ކަށިކެޔޮ

Screwpine (pandanus) fruit, a common Maldivian ingredient eaten raw in thin slices or cooked — sold fresh in markets across the islands.

FruitsUncommon

Maldives

Kavaabu

ކަވާބު

Smoked tuna, coconut, onion, ginger, curry leaves, and lime are bound, shaped, and deep-fried into a Maldivian snack.

Street SnacksCommon

Maldives

Kukulhu Riha

ކުކުޅު ރިހަ

Maldivian chicken curry with a distinct spice blend different from tuna curry — chicken simmered in coconut milk with cinnamon, cardamom, and curry leaves.

CurriesCommon

Maldives

Kulhi Boakibaa

ކުޅި ބޯކިބާ

Tuna, coconut, and ground rice are mixed, seasoned, and baked into a savoury Maldivian cake.

Cakes & CustardsCommon

Maldives

Kulhi Mas

ކުޅި މަސް

Fish is cooked with hot chilli, onion, and spices into a strongly seasoned Maldivian preparation.

FishUncommon

Maldives

Maldives Fish

ވަޅޯމަސް

Cured skipjack tuna — gutted, boiled, smoked, and sun-dried to a tarry black, rock-hard block that is flaked or shaved into Maldivian dishes and Sri Lankan sambols.

FishCommon

Maldives

Mas Huni

މަސްހުނި

Smoked tuna is flaked with fresh coconut, onion, chilli, and lime into a breakfast mixture eaten with roshi.

SaladsCommon

Maldives

Mas Riha

މަސް ރިހަ

Maldivian tuna curry with coconut milk, fresh chilies, cinnamon, and spices — the most important curry in Dhivehi cuisine, eaten daily with rice or roshi.

CurriesCommon

Maldives

Maskurolhi

މަސްކުރޮޅި

Mature coconut and tuna are pounded into a relish served as an accompaniment to Baipen.

DipsUncommon

Maldives

Miruhulee Boava

މިރުހުލީ ބޯވާ

Octopus tentacles braised in curry leaves, chili, garlic, cloves, onion, pepper, and coconut oil — a distinctive Maldivian seafood dish.

StewsUncommon

Maldives

Raa

Ruku Raa

Fresh coconut-palm sap collected in the Maldives, mildly sweet and cloudy when newly tapped. It is drunk fresh as raa and can develop more alcohol as it ferments into ruku raa.

Traditional DrinksUncommon