Kulhi Hedhikaa with a Twist
by Iyath Adam
Food is a big part of any country’s culture, and in the Maldives, hedhikaa (short eats) hold a special place in our hearts. Whether shared over evening tea with friends and family or served to visiting guests, these bite-sized snacks have always been part of Maldivian life.
While we all love the traditional classics, there are some hedhikaa which have been adapted to our tastes from neighbouring cuisines or just upgraded with a modern twist – equally delicious but just a little different. And that’s what we have here for you in this list!
For more tea-time snack inspiration, you can also check out our foni hedhikaa (sweet short eats) article here.
Probably adapted from Sri Lanka’s ‘maalu paan’ or fish bun, this Maldivian version has a spicy, curried potato and canned tuna filling inside – perfect to have with a cup of kalhu sai or black tea.
This simple boakibaa with potatoes, canned tuna and eggs tastes like a giant omelette with all the trimmings – easy to make and even easier to gobble up!
Keemiya is one of those dishes that takes a little bit more time to make, but the results are so worth it! And this version comes with a toasty, baked wrapping and a savoury, tomato-y, baked beans filling inside.
Sausage rolls have now become a favourite teatime go-to amongst kids and adults alike. Although not traditionally Maldivian, they’ve definitely found a place in our hedhikaa lineup.
This version of cutlets with chicken and cheese is great to enjoy with some ketchup or chilli sauce – and kids will have a great time with the stringy cheese pull when you bite into it!
Another recipe which probably came from a nearby cuisine is this egg puff – which looks really similar to the Kerala egg puff. Although our version is folded differently and has a tomato paste-tuna filling (instead of their onion masala), it’s equally delicious and so satisfying!
This fish pie recipe is a ways away from traditional Maldivian hedhikaa – which doesn’t feature a lot of pastry dough – but its spicy, hearty notes have definitely made a mark on our tea tables.
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Eating Out
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Hedhikaa Recipes
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