Discover the traditional dishes of Mauritius

Mauritius is a dream destination for those who want to enjoy their holidays in the sun with their friends or family. Apart from its beautiful panoramas and beaches, discovering its traditional dishes is also a real treat for the taste buds. Meet these new flavors that will make all the charm of your holiday in Mauritius.

A marvelous culinary multiculturalism

Born from the successful blending of different cultures, Mauritian cuisine is made up of many traditional dishes as well as Creole cuisine born of intercultural bridges. The result is a tasty, colourful, spicy, surprising and always delicious cuisine. 

The basic element brought back from the East: rice, as well as variations of tomato-based sauces with a subtle blend of spices. With a population that includes many vegetarians, visitors following such diets will be delighted with the many vegetable-based Mauritian dishes. 

Chinese, Indian, Indo-Muslim, French and Creole, Mauritian cuisine reflects the multicultural nature of its population: joyful, generous and unforgettable.

The briani

For a successful Mauritius holiday, you cannot leave without eating a briani. Native to India, it is the traditional dish of the Muslim community and is enjoyed in all communities.

 It is made of chicken, rice, yoghurt, potatoes and many spices. Should you like to taste it, we advise you to go to the port or to the market. Once you taste it, you may even be tempted to cook it at home when you will be back.

The fried noodles

It’s a Sino-Mauritian dish you can find anywhere on the island as well as in the many small shops facing the beach. It is a dish made of Chinese noodle, eggs, cabbage and meat or shrimp. If you want to taste those prepared by a real Mauritian, prefer the stands near the beaches and in the small shops that sell take away food. Chinese restaurants abound in Mauritius and all offer them on the menu.

 It is also a dish that is not difficult to reproduce at home if you have the right recipe.

The Dholl Puris

They are delicious soft patties that have been topped with curry sauces and rougail. To eat it easily, it is rolled like a pancake. It is a dish that you will find all over the island. It is a dish not to be missed during your last minute holidays to Mauritius. You can buy them in the markets, on the street, at street vendors. The Mauritians usually eat it with chili if you are not used to it, ask those with no chili. It’s a typical Mauritian dish. It’s not necessarily a full meal, but it’s part of your menu when there are family gatherings or parties.

The Faratas

For the non-connoisseurs who are spending their holidays in Mauritius, they may have difficulty distinguishing between Farata and Dholl Puri. And yet, they’re not the same. Flakier than the iconic roti, the Farata are stiffer and much less yellow than Puri dholl. Farata originally from India is the equivalent of bread. Made with flour, water, salt and oil, the Mauritians consume it without moderation. In the markets, they are made on the spot and you can take the opportunity to ask for the recipe at the same time.

The Deer salmis 

A tribute to the abundance of venison on the island: deer salmis is a taste of French-inspired cuisine that has been creolised and offers strong flavors on the palate with a meat that has character. This traditional dish can be eaten at homestays or in restaurants offering traditional French cuisine. Served with rice and a vegetable gratin, it is both powerful and delicious. 

Mauritius is not only a rich destination for its history and beauty, it is also a delight for the taste buds of its visitors. If you are curious and want to  discover the Mauritian cuisine in all its diversity, in addition to getting to our concierge’s list of the best restaurants, create friendly relationships with Mauritians  who will make you discover with pleasure these typical local dishes.