Although the picture-perfect islands of the Maldives are best seen and experienced in person, there are several ways UK residents can replicate the feeling of a tropical island getaway from the comfort of their home this spring.

For a taste of Indian Ocean escapism, budding chefs can spice up their weekly meal plan and recreate a traditional Maldivian breakfast meal, mas huni, plus a kukulhu riha curry with coconut flatbread thanks to a recipe shared by The Residence Maldives’ chefs. Furthermore, fitness fanatics keen to keep healthy at home can strengthen their immune system with Vakkaru Maldives’ vitamin-packed mocktail and join an exercise instructor from Club Med Kani resort via video for an energetic HIIT workout on the beach.

Further information on how to enjoy the magic of the Maldives at home is below:

Replicate A Traditional Maldivian Breakfast at Home
Traditional Maldivian cuisine largely consists of three main ingredients: fish, coconut and starches containing grains and vegetables. Although breakfast cereals and gourmet pancakes are available for those staying at Maldivian resorts, holidaymakers visiting the island nation can also choose to experience one of the more traditional breakfast favourites: mas huni. The savoury breakfast meal consists of finely chopped tuna, onion, coconut and chilli and is typically eaten with freshly baked roshi flatbread which is used to scoop up the food, and sweetened hot tea.

Recipe for Mas Huni:
Ingredients:

  • 1 cup smoked tuna or canned tuna chunks (diced or sliced)
  • 1 cup grated coconut
  • 1 Scotch bonnet chilli pepper (finely chopped)
  • 1⁄2 cup onion (finely sliced)
  • 1⁄2 cup lemon juice
  • Salt to taste

Method:

  1. Mix and press the onions and Scotch bonnet with lemon juice and salt.
  2. Add the tuna and grated coconut and mix well
  3. Serve with flatbread.

A range of traditional Maldivian recipes to recreate at home this spring can also be found on the Visit Maldives website at www.visitmaldives.com/en/experience.

Strengthen The Immune System with Vakkaru Maldives’ Biosphere Mocktail
For strengthening immune systems this spring, mixologists at Vakkaru Maldives have shared a recipe for recreating the ‘biosphere’ mocktail served at the five-star resort. The delicious and refreshing drink is made using fresh ingredients from the island’s on-site organic farm, with ingredients including coconut, aloe vera, lemongrass and mint leaves. Combined with other nutritious ingredients and superfoods like broccoli and spinach, this delightful mocktail is a great source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Recipe for Biosphere Mocktail
Ingredients:

  • 40ml coconut water
  • 30ml fresh orange juice
  • 10ml fresh lemon juice
  • 50g broccoli
  • 50g green pepper
  • 30g spinach
  • 30g aloe vera
  • Plus garnish items such as dried lemon wheel, dried orange wheel, two small spinach leaves, one small stick of aloe vera and a thin spring of broccoli

Method:

  1. Use a squeezer to extract the juice of the broccoli, green pepper, spinach and aloe vera
  2. Mix the extracted juice with the coconut water, orange juice and lemon juice in a shaker with ice cubes
  3. Shake all the ingredients for 10 seconds
  4. Double strain the mix into a serving glass over six ice cubes
  5. Top up with a scoop of crushed ice to hold the garnish

For more information on the resort, visit www.vakkarumaldives.com.

Kick Start The Day With A Beachside HIIT Workout at Club Med Kani in the Maldives 
Those looking to stay healthy at home this spring can start the day with a concise burst of beachside exercise at Club Med Kani in the Maldives. The resort’s GO team member Keryn has shared a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout video, which guides viewers through an energetic full-body routine that includes several plank variations plus core and leg exercises, all on the white sand beaches of the resort’s island. The full-body HIIT workout from Club Med Kani is available to view at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE4avYfZsjc. For more information on the resort, visit www.clubmed.co.uk.

Savour A Taste of the Maldives with The Residence Maldives’ Traditional Curry Recipe
Foodies keen to spice up their weekly rotation of meals can share the flavours of the Maldives with loved ones thanks to the chefs at The Residence Maldives, who have shared a recipe for traditional Maldivian chicken and coconut curry known as kukulhu riha. Paired with a coconut flatbread known as huni roshi, this mouth-watering rustic and authentic meal is sure to transport diners to the palm-fringed shores of the resort, which is nestled on the pristine island of Falhumaafushi. For more information on the resort, visit www.cenizaro.com/theresidence.

Recipe For Kukulhu Riha (Maldivian Chicken Curry)
Ingredients:

  • 220g chicken thigh
  • 15g cardamom
  • 10g black pepper
  • 3g cumin powder
  • 10g cinnamon
  • 80g sliced red onion
  • 30g ginger paste
  • 30g garlic paste
  • 1 pandan leaf
  • ¼ cup of curry leaves
  • 10g turmeric powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 30g dried red chillies
  • 50g masala powder
  • 2 cups of coconut milk
  • 15g curry powder
  • 15g tomato paste
  • Juice from three limes

Method:

  1. Cut the chicken into pieces and marinate with lime juice and salt.
  2. Heat oil in a casserole pan and add the cinnamon, pandan leaf, curry leaves and dried red chillies. Add the sliced onions and cook until translucent.
  3. Add the ginger, garlic and tomato pastes plus the remaining spices and cook until aromatic.
  4. Add the chicken and after a few minutes of cooking add the coconut milk.
  5. Cook the curry for 10-15 minutes on medium heat.

Recipe for Huni Roshi (Maldivian Flat Coconut Bread)
Ingredients:

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour and more flour for rolling
  • 1 ½ cup grated coconut (not pressed)
  • 1 ¾ cup water
  • 1 ½ tsp salt

Method:

  1. In a big bowl mix flour, salt and coconut.
  2. Add 1 ½ cup water and combine well.
  3. Rest of water is added little by little; all of the water may not be needed or sometimes you may need to add water until all of the flour is incorporated.
  4. Knead to make a smooth non-stick dough.
  5. Divide the dough into four equal portions. Smooth each portion.
  6. Flour a rolling surface and roll each dough into the shape of discs.
  7. Bake this on a pan on medium heat until different spots start to turn golden brown.

For further information on the Maldives, visit www.visitmaldives.com.

ENDS

Notes To Editors:
Photo Caption:
Image 1: The Biosphere mocktail at Vakkaru Maldives.
Image 2: Club Med Kani.
Image 3: Kukulhu riha curry with huni roshi flatbread at The Residence Maldives.

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