Mas Huni is one of the Maldives’ most iconic and traditional breakfast dishes—a fresh, flavorful mix of shredded smoked tuna, grated coconut, onions, and chopped chili, often brightened with lime juice. It’s typically served with warm roshi–Maldivian flatbread– and a hot cup of tea.
This dish stands out for its simplicity and its distinctly Maldivian flavor profile: smoky, salty tuna balanced by creamy coconut and the refreshing bite of raw onions and chilies.
Every household prepares it slightly differently, but the essence remains the same—light, nourishing, and deeply connected to island life.
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Traditional Maldivian Mas Huni: Tuna, Coconut, and Onion Simplicity
Description
Mas Huni is one of the Maldives’ most iconic and traditional breakfast dishes—a fresh, flavorful mix of shredded smoked tuna, grated coconut, onions, and chopped chili, often brightened with lime juice.
Background and Origin
Mas Huni reflects the Maldives’ long-standing relationship with the sea. For centuries, fishing has been the foundation of Maldivian culture, economy, and daily survival. Tuna, especially skipjack tuna, has been central to Maldivian cuisine since ancient times.
Maldivians perfected techniques to smoke, sun-dry, and preserve fish, ensuring a stable food supply even during monsoon seasons.
The combination of fish and coconut in Mas Huni is no coincidence. The Maldives has abundant coconut palms, and coconuts have historically been essential in everything from food to building materials. By mixing preserved tuna with grated coconut, early islanders created a dish that was:
- nutrient-rich
- quick to prepare
- suited to the warm island climate
- easy to serve to families of all sizes
As the Maldives developed, Mas Huni remained a constant—served in humble homes, guesthouses, resorts, and local cafés. Today, it’s considered a culinary symbol of Maldivian identity, representing the perfect harmony of sea and land ingredients.
Ingredients
Instructions
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How to Prepare Mas Huni
- Grate the coconut and set aside.
- Thinly slice the onions and set aside.
- Finely chop the habanero and chop the curry leaves.
- In a mixing bowl, add the sliced onion, habanero, and curry leaves.
- Add the salt and the lime juice. Add the black pepper.
- Wearing kitchen gloves, squeeze the ingredients together and mix. Squeeze and mix until you can see some liquid forming up.
- Then add the grated coconut and continue to squeeze-mix.
- Dispose of the liquid on the canned tuna. Add the tuna to the mixture and mix.
- Remove the stems from the green coppy leaves and finely chop them. Add them to the mixture and mix.
- Transfer the mas huni into a serving bowl
- Garnish with the sliced tomatoes.
- Enjoy with bread and a hot cup of tea!
Video credit: All Food–YouTube
Note
Tips for Making Mas Huni
- Mas Huni tastes best with smoked tuna, canned Maldivian tuna, or freshly boiled tuna (if you don’t have smoked).
- Use fresh grated coconut, as freshly grated coconut gives the dish its signature aroma and soft texture.
- Adjust the chilies to your preference.
- Always mix the ingredients by hand to achieve its unique taste.
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Mas Huni is a reflection of the Maldives’ heritage, resourcefulness, and island spirit. With its simple ingredients and bold, refreshing flavors, it continues to connect modern Maldivians to their ancestral traditions and the endless ocean that sustains them.
Enjoy!
