Culinary Inspiration & Test Kitchen
Recipes & Dishes
Crafted with our direct-imported ingredients — step-by-step culinary guides designed for Maldivian home cooks, resort chefs, and food enthusiasts.
Tuna Sandwich
The tuna sandwich needs no introduction in a Maldivian kitchen — it is the sandwich most of us grew up on. Tuna, onion and mayonnaise, bound together and finished with a slice of cheese, and best eaten with a hot cup of black tea. The filling here is made with Remia Mayonnaise, part of the Remia range we distribute across the Maldives. It whips up creamy, fluffy and light, and the same jar will carry you through most sandwich fillings and salads you care to make. Makes : 7 sandwiches
Tortilla Pizza
Few things in the pantry stretch as far as a pack of tortillas — wraps, pinwheels, enchiladas, burritos, tacos. This tortilla pizza might be the quickest use of all: a handful of ingredients and it is on the table. We have built it on Deli Sun Soft Flour Tortillas, one of the lines we bring in and supply nationwide. A pack holds 8, and they freeze well, so they are worth keeping on hand for the evenings when nothing has been planned. Serving size: 2
Thai Red Curry Fried Rice
Aromatic, gently spicy and forgiving of yesterday's rice — this fried rice earns its place on a weeknight. Its backbone is Real Thai Red Curry Paste, from the Real Thai range we import and distribute here. The blend of Thai herbs and spices does the heavy lifting, and a spoonful is an easy way to lift an ordinary lunch or dinner into something with real character. Serving size: 1
Tandoori Chicken Skewers
For a light brunch or an unhurried lunch, these tandoori skewers strike the right balance — enough meat and vegetables to satisfy, and plenty of flavour throughout. The chicken is coated in Shan Tandoori Masala, part of the Shan range we supply across the Maldives. It is blended specifically for tandoori-style barbecue chicken, carries no preservatives or added colour, and is suitable for vegetarians. The aroma alone tells you it is working. Serving size: 6
Submarine Buns
Soft, fluffy and made entirely from scratch, these submarine buns turn a homemade sandwich into something worth planning around. The method is straightforward and the ingredients are simple. The rise comes from Bruggeman Instant Dry Yeast, one of the baking staples we distribute. It is prized for its stability across different baking techniques, and each box holds 5 sachets of 11 grams — easy to portion for a small bake and easy to store. Serving size: 2 sub rolls
Strawberry Milkshake
Sweet, smooth and ready in minutes, a strawberry milkshake is the shortest route to a proper treat on a hot afternoon. Ours uses Young's Crave Strawberry Topping, from the Young's range we supply across the Maldives. The flavour is rich and the texture stays silky, which makes the same bottle just as useful over pancakes, desserts and ice cream.
Strawberry Layer Cake
Soft strawberry sponge, sweet strawberry buttercream and a fresh strawberry sauce running through it — this is the strawberry cake to bring out for a gathering. The sponge starts with Pillsbury Strawberry Cake Mix, part of the Pillsbury range we distribute. It bakes quickly, the strawberry flavour is genuine, and the smell coming out of the oven is very nearly the best part. Serving size: 8-9
Sriracha Crispy Chicken Dirty Fries
Crispy fried chicken, golden fries and a generous pour of spicy sriracha aioli — unapologetically messy, and better for it. Share it or don't. The heat comes from Real Thai Sriracha Hot Chilli Garlic Sauce, one of the Real Thai products we bring into the Maldives. Chilli warmth, garlic depth and a touch of tang: right for coating the chicken, and right again stirred into a creamy aioli. Serving size: 2
Shan Spicy Dry Aloo
A quick potato dish that works as a side or holds its own as a main with roti or rice — lightly crisp outside, soft within, and coated in spice throughout. It is built on Shan Curry Powder, part of the Shan range we distribute nationally. The blend is balanced enough to carry a dry dish like this one, and versatile enough for curries, stews and soups. Serving size: 3
Shan Chicken Tikka Masala
Thick, creamy and generous with spice, chicken tikka masala is a curry that rewards a good seasoning mix. This one is made with Shan Chicken Tikka Seasoning Mix, from the Shan range we supply across the Maldives. The flavour is rich and the aroma close to what you would expect from an authentic Indian kitchen. Serve with naan or paratha — and keep the mix, because it makes a fine base for other chicken dishes. Serving size: 5-6
Shan Butter Chicken
Tender chicken in a rich, buttery, gently spiced tomato gravy — butter chicken rarely disappoints, and this version is quicker than most. Shan Butter Chicken Mix, part of the Shan range we distribute, does away with hunting down a dozen separate spices. What comes out of the pan tastes remarkably close to the butter chicken you would order at a good Indian restaurant.
Saagu Kan’dhi
Kan'dhi is Maldivian comfort food at its plainest and best — something close to a sweet porridge. This saagu kan'dhi is mostly sago, sugar and coconut milk, and though it is simple to make, pandan, cardamom, cinnamon and rose water give it real depth. We make ours with Real Thai Coconut Milk, one of the Real Thai lines we import. It is 100% fresh coconut milk, not from concentrate and with no added colour, and it carries just as well into curries, sweets and drinks. Serving size: 5-6
Rice Paper Chicken Dumplings
Light, crisp and genuinely enjoyable to assemble, these dumplings hold a savoury chicken and vegetable filling and are pan-fried until golden — good as a snack, an appetiser or something to put out at a gathering. They are wrapped in Real Thai Rice Paper, part of the Real Thai range we distribute. It handles easily and crisps beautifully, which is what you want for dumplings and light rolls alike. Serving size: 24 dumplings
Rice Noodles with Peanut Sauce
A sweet-savoury peanut sauce, aromatic spring onion and noodles that soak up both — we made ours with an extra kick of chilli. The noodles are Real Thai Rice Stick, from the Real Thai range we supply here. Cooked, they turn soft and chewy without being so thick that they bury the sauce, which makes them equally at home in stir-fries and soups. Sering size: 1-2
Potato Wedges
The wedge worth making is the one that shatters at the edge and stays cloud-soft in the middle. This recipe is aimed squarely at that. We deep-fry ours in Ondoliva Olive Pomace Oil, part of the Ondoliva range we distribute across the Maldives. It is light and delicate on the palate and recommended for cooking and deep frying — which matters here, because it leaves none of that heavy fried aftertaste. Serving size: 2-3
Pillsbury Brookies
Why settle for one dessert? A brookie is a brownie and a cookie in the same tin — a fudgy brownie base with scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough dropped over the top. The base is made with Pillsbury Fudge Brownie Mix, from the Pillsbury range we supply. It bakes up moist and properly chocolatey, with the convenience of a mix and the flavour of a from-scratch brownie.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Tart
This may be the best dessert pie we have put together yet — rich, creamy, and built on a base that asks very little of you. The filling uses Nutberry Peanut Butter Chocolate, one of the Nutberry products we distribute. Chocolate and peanut sit in good balance and the consistency is exactly creamy enough. It is just as happy spread on toast as it is holding together a tart like this one. Serving size: 8-10
Peanut Butter Chicken
Peanut butter is not the first thing most of us reach for in a savoury dish, which is part of what makes this one a pleasant surprise. The sauce is rich and seasoned in the Asian style — soy, vinegar and chilli paste — and works with plain rice or a flatbread like roshi or paratha. We use Nutberry Peanut Butter Crunchy, part of the Nutberry range we bring into the Maldives. It is lighter and creamier than most, with roasted chopped peanuts running through it, and because it is not overly sweet it moves easily between desserts and savoury cooking. Serving size: 2-3
Pakora
Pakora is the fried fritter you make when you want something savoury and want it soon — besan whisked with water and spices, vegetables folded through, straight into the oil. Ours uses Pillsbury Besan 100% Chana Dal Flour, part of the Pillsbury range we distribute across the Maldives. It has a full, nutty flavour and carries just as well into chilla and other Indian flatbreads and sweets. Serving size: 2
Overnight Oats
Breakfast that makes itself overnight is hard to argue with — a few minutes of preparation, then fruit, nut butter, nuts or seeds piled on in the morning however you like. We make ours with Pascual Vive Soy Oat Milk, from the Pascual range we bring into the Maldives. The drink is 100% plant-based and high in calcium and vitamins D and B12, which makes it a straightforward choice for anyone lactose intolerant or allergic to cow's milk protein. It also does good work in other drinks and desserts. Serving size: 2
One-Pot Chicken Rice
One pot, one hearty meal, and enough of it for a family gathering. The chicken legs come out succulent and the rice fluffy and full of flavour — this is the kind of dish that gets requested again. We cook ours with Zaara Premium Basmati Rice, part of the Zaara range we distribute. The grain is aromatic and stays fluffy, and it takes up the chicken, spices and sauces without turning heavy. Serving Size: 4
Mas Banas (with Bruggeman Instant Yeast)
Mas Banas is the Maldivian answer to Sri Lanka's Maalu Paan — a savoury bun packed with spiced tuna and potato, and a tea-time favourite that genuinely fills you up. The dough rises on Bruggeman Instant Yeast, one of the baking staples we supply across the Maldives. It is known for its stability across baking techniques, and the box holds 5 sachets of 11 grams, which suits a small batch like this.
Margarine Cake
Made with margarine rather than butter, this cake bakes soft and moist with a slightly denser crumb — and it stays moist for days, which is more than can be said for most. We use Remia Margarine, part of the Remia range we distribute here. Smooth and creamy, made from vegetable oils, it is an affordable stand-in for butter that still brings flavour and moisture to cakes and pastries.
Marble Cake
Two batters, chocolate and vanilla, swirled together just enough to marble but not so much that they blur — that is the whole trick to a marble cake. Both start from Pillsbury Moist Supreme Cake Mix Golden Vanilla, from the Pillsbury range we supply. It bakes soft and fluffy with a light, buttery taste, and gets you a homemade-tasting cake for very little effort.
Mango Sago with Mango Jelly
Refreshing, low effort and still worth serving to guests — mango sago with mango jelly is the dessert to make when time is short. We set ours with Shan Jelly Crystals in Mango, part of the Shan range we distribute. It is quick-setting, vegetarian-friendly, and the mango flavour comes from organic mango powder rather than tasting synthetic. Serving size: 5-6
Maldivian Kulhi Riha
Kulhi Riha is the spicy Maldivian tuna curry that households have leaned on for generations, served with roshi or rice. Bilimbi is traditional, but lime steps in perfectly well when you cannot find any. Coconut milk is the ingredient that decides how good it turns out, so it is worth using a creamy one — ours is Real Thai Coconut Milk, from the Real Thai range we import. It is 100% fresh coconut milk, not from concentrate and with no added colour, and it works across curries, sweets and drinks. Serving size: 3-4
Lazy Cat Cake
The lazy cat cake that Kuwaiti chef Ahmed AlZamel sent around the internet is light, deeply chocolatey and far easier than it looks. The chocolate cake element here is Pomsy Double Chocolate Cupcake, part of the range we distribute across the Maldives. Moist and fluffy, heavy on cocoa and filled with a chocolate centre, it gives you a double hit of chocolate in every bite.
Kandu Kukulhu (with Real Thai Coconut Milk)
Of all the Maldivian tuna curries, Kandu Kukulhu may be the most prized — the name translates to “chicken of the sea,” which tells you where it sits. It is a bold, well-spiced curry and a fixture in many households. Ours came out with a good amount of heat, so ease back on the chillies if you prefer it gentler. We make it with Real Thai Coconut Milk, one of the Real Thai lines we bring in. It is rich and creamy with a natural coconut flavour that rounds out the spices rather than competing with them.
Havaadhulee Bis (with Real Thai Coconut Milk)
Havaadhulee Bis takes time and runs through a fair few steps, so it can be daunting the first time — but the result more than repays the effort. This is a revised version of a recipe first published years ago, with the steps simplified and the flavours adjusted. We make it with Real Thai Coconut Milk, part of the Real Thai range we distribute. It is 100% fresh coconut milk with no concentrate, equally at home in curries, sweets and drinks.
Hanaakuri Masdhalhu
Hanaakuri Havaadhu is a curry powder built by toasting spices on the stove, and it is what gives Hanaakuri Mas its unmistakable depth. Hanaakuri Masdhalhu borrows that same powder for something simpler and faster — toast the havaadhu yourself or reach for a store-bought one, either way this stays an easy dish. We served ours with Pillsbury Whole Wheat Roti, part of the Pillsbury range we supply across the Maldives. Made with Pillsbury Chakki Atta and shelf-stable, it needs nothing more than heating before it goes on the plate. Serving size: 2-3
Hanaakuri Boava
Octopus, cooked with a spice mixture toasted fresh at home — aromatic, properly spicy, and very good at breakfast or lunch. Alongside it we serve Pillsbury Multigrain Roti, from the Pillsbury range we distribute. It is a soft flatbread blended from whole wheat and other grains, quick to heat and a sensible everyday choice. Serving size: 2-3
Focaccia
Home baking has held onto its popularity, and focaccia is a good place to put that enthusiasm — flatter and lighter than most breads, and generous with olive oil. Eat it plain, split it for sandwiches, or set it beside a pasta dish. Since the oil is the main event, quality matters: we use Ondoliva Olive Pomace Oil, part of the Ondoliva range we bring into the Maldives. It carries a rich, vibrant olive flavour that serves equally well in pastas, salads and sauces. Serving size: 4-5
Easy Tandoori Chicken Wrap
Juicy spiced tandoori chicken folded into a soft corn tortilla — simple, filling, and as suited to a quick lunch as to dinner or something eaten on the move. We build ours on Deli Sun Full Grain Corn Tortillas, one of the Deli Sun lines we distribute. They are soft but sturdy, with a gentle corn flavour that suits the tandoori spicing, and they turn just as readily into tacos or a base for a quick homemade pizza. Serving size: 5
Dark Chocolate Orange Cake
Two layers, fluffy and moist, with orange cutting cleanly through dark chocolate — a pairing that has never needed defending. The cake is made with Pillsbury Moist Supreme Cake Mix in Dark Chocolate, from the Pillsbury range we supply here. The chocolate flavour is deep and the preparation quick, which saves you most of the effort a good chocolate cake usually demands. Makes: one 7-inch double layer cake
Crunchy Nut Salad
Light, refreshing and with a bit of crunch in every forkful — this salad comes together quickly and works as a side or a light meal on its own. We finish ours with Tai Sun Deluxe Mix, part of the Tai Sun range we distribute across the Maldives. A handful adds variety, texture and flavour without any extra work. Serving Size: 1 to 2 people
Creamy Blue Cheese Pasta
Creamy, tangy and quick to put together, this is a pasta for people who like their cheese to make itself known. The sauce is built on Remia Blue Cheese Dressing, one of the Remia products we supply. Blue cheese, fine herbs and a quiet note of garlic — and the same bottle earns its keep in sandwiches, burgers and as a dip. Serving size: 1-2
Cream Cheese Spaghetti
Creamy, cheesy spaghetti with chicken — a filling plate for lunch or dinner that does not ask much of you. The sauce is made with Salim Creamy Taste cream cheese spread, part of the Salim range we distribute across the Maldives. It is smooth and genuinely creamy with a light milky, cheesy note, and the same tub is just as good on toast or worked into sandwiches and dressings. Serving size: 2-3
Chocolate Trifle
If plain chocolate cake has started to feel routine, a trifle is the answer — moist chocolate sponge layered with rich chocolate pudding, soft whipped cream, and pomegranate seeds for a sweet crunch against it all. The sponge is made with Pillsbury Moist Supreme Cake Mix in Dark Chocolate, from the Pillsbury range we supply. It is deep in flavour and takes only a few steps, which leaves you time for the layering. Serving size: 8 × 8-inch tray trifle.
Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
A chocolate turn on the Latin American classic: a chocolate sponge that drinks up the sweet milk soak until every bite melts, finished with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa. It is a proper showstopper, whether for a celebration or simply because. The cake uses Pillsbury Moist Supreme Cake Mix Cocoa, part of the Pillsbury range we distribute here, which reliably delivers a fluffy, moist chocolate sponge. Makes: 8x8-inch square tray
Chocolate Filled Donuts
Warm, fresh and filled with chocolate — these donuts take a little patience, and they are worth every minute of it. The dough rises on Bruggeman Instant Yeast, one of the baking staples we supply across the Maldives. It lifts the dough well, giving you a light, airy crumb and a soft finish, and it is equally dependable for breads, buns and other baking.
Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Soft in the middle, lightly crisp at the edge, and pooling with melted chocolate throughout. These come together from basic pantry ingredients yet still land somewhere near bakery quality — and a small sprinkle of salt over the top sharpens the chocolate considerably. We use Choco Bliss Crave Milky Chocolate Compound, part of the range we distribute. It melts into the dough while still leaving those pockets of chocolate you want to hit.
Chilli Chicken Wraps
Fried chicken in a spicy sauce, laid over crunchy lettuce and wrapped up — a solid option for lunch or dinner. We wrap ours in Deli Sun Full Grain Corn Tortillas, from the Deli Sun range we distribute across the Maldives. Soft but sturdy, with a light corn flavour, and versatile enough for tacos or a quick homemade pizza base. Serving size: 6
Chicken Satay
Chicken satay began in Indonesia and has since travelled almost everywhere — skewered chicken that is savoury, tangy and faintly sweet, served with peanut sauce for dipping. These skewers are simple to prepare and the sauce comes together alongside them. Both the marinade and the sauce use Nutberry Peanut Butter Creamy, part of the Nutberry range we supply. It is light and very creamy with a touch of sweetness, and that natural nutty flavour carries into sweet and savoury cooking alike.
Chicken Salad
Stir-fried chicken, fresh vegetables, fruit and a creamy dressing — crunchy where it should be and creamy where it counts. The dressing is made with Young's Chicken Spread, one of the Young's products we distribute across the Maldives. Cooked chicken, vegetable oil and good ingredients, and it goes just as easily into sandwiches and wraps as it does here. Serving size: 1
Chicken Quesadilla
Chicken, bell peppers and cheese is a combination that has never needed improving, which is why quesadillas work equally well as a weeknight dinner or party food. We make ours with Deli Sun Flour Tortillas, part of the Deli Sun range we distribute. Beyond being convenient, they taste good in their own right — soft, with a pleasant bread-like flavour.
Chicken Fajita Wraps
Seasoned strips of chicken breast, sautéed with bell peppers and onions, rolled into a warm tortilla — that is the whole of a good fajita, and it makes an easy lunch or dinner. We spread Young's Chicken Spread Fajita over the tortilla first for another layer of flavour. It is part of the Young's range we supply here: a creamy chicken spread carrying the smoky depth of fajita seasoning, and a quick way to lift any sandwich or wrap. Makes: 8 chicken fajita wraps
Chicken Enchiladas
Tortillas rolled around tender chicken, covered in a homemade enchilada sauce and a great deal of cheese. We use Deli Sun Plain Flour Wraps, from the Deli Sun range we distribute across the Maldives. They handle wraps, burritos and enchiladas equally well, and because they freeze, they are worth keeping in for the nights you want something quick. Serving size: 6
Chicken Breast with Chicken 65
This takes its cue from Chicken 65 but skips the bite-sized pieces, marinating a whole chicken breast in the same spices instead — an easy route to a quick lunch, dinner or something prepped ahead. The marinade is Shan Chicken 65, part of the Shan range we supply. The ready-to-use mix is dense with aromatic spice, which gets you that signature flavour at home without assembling it yourself. Serving Size: 1-2 people
Chicken Alfredo Pasta
A classic built on very little: a cream and cheese sauce, tender chicken over the top, and not much time between starting and eating. We make ours with PastaZARA Penne Rigate, part of the Pasta Zara range we distribute across the Maldives. Cooked, it stays pleasantly chewy and holds the cream sauce rather than letting it slide off — which makes it useful well beyond this dish.
Chichanda Kirugarudhiya
Kirugarudhiya is about as simple as a side dish gets — combine the ingredients with coconut milk and let it simmer until everything is through. This chichanda, or snake gourd, version is hearty enough to make a meal of with some roshi. We use Real Thai Coconut Milk, from the Real Thai range we import and distribute. It is 100% fresh coconut milk with no concentrate, and it moves easily between curries, sweets and drinks. Serving size: 2-3
Bombay Biryani
There is no shortage of biryanis to choose between. This Bombay biryani keeps things simple — chicken and rice layered, then steamed under a covered pot so the rice takes on the full aroma. As with any biryani, the masala decides the outcome, which is why we use Shan Special Bombay Biryani masala mix, part of the Shan range we distribute across the Maldives. A 60g pack seasons 1kg of meat or vegetables, and being blended specifically for Bombay biryani it seasons the chicken and potatoes properly and brings real heat. Serving size: 6-8
Baked Honey Mustard Chicken
Chicken breasts baked in a honey mustard sauce, served with rice or mashed potato — an easy lunch or dinner that tastes like more effort than it took. The sauce uses Remia Honey Mustard Dressing, one of the Remia products we supply across the Maldives. Sweet and savoury in good proportion, it is equally at home dressing salads or thinned into a dip. Serving size: 2-3
Atta Roshi
A simple whole wheat roshi — soft, wholesome, and suited to just about any meal. A few basic ingredients is all it takes, and it sits well beside curries, rihaakuru or whatever else is on the table. Making it from scratch is far less daunting than it sounds. We use Pillsbury Chakki Atta, part of the Pillsbury range we distribute across the Maldives. The flour is finely milled, so the dough turns out soft and pliable — right for roshi, chapati and everyday flatbreads.
Almond Milk Chai Latte
Chai is the traditional Indian tea of spices, black tea and milk. This almond milk version keeps the classic chai spicing, adds vanilla, and finishes with plenty of foam. We make it with Pascual Vive Soy Almond Milk, part of the Pascual range we bring into the Maldives. It is high in calcium, includes vitamins D and B12, and is low in fat — 100% plant-based, with a nutty flavour that suits chai, and a good option for anyone lactose intolerant.
Creamy Penne alla Maldiviana
Italian bronze-cut Penne Rigate tossed with smoked tuna flakes, fresh chili, cream, and garden herbs.