When it comes to Mashuni, there are so many different types to explore. But this is arguably the best, and of course my favourite! This Baraboa Mashuni has simple ingredients but packs in great flavours.
At its heart, mashuni is about the crush. Combining the onion, Githeyo Mirus (the Maldivian scotch bonnet) and curry leaves with lime juice and salt and working them together by hand is what builds the flavour base. The heat of the chilli, the brightness of the lime, and the sharpness of the onion mellow into each other before the tuna, coconut, and mashed pumpkin are folded in to create something warm, creamy, and deeply satisfying.
The grated coconut adds a subtle sweetness that balances the heat beautifully, and the pumpkin brings a soft, velvety richness that makes this mashuni feel more substantial than your average side dish. It’s traditionally served alongside roshi or as part of a larger Maldivian spread, but honestly it holds its own just fine on its own.
If you’ve never tried Maldivian food, this is a beautiful place to start. And if you grew up eating this, you already know.
Baraboa Mashuni
Ingredients
- ½ Small Pumpkin Boiled and Mashed
- 1 Large Onion Thinly Sliced
- ½ Githeyo Mirus (Maldivian Scotch Bonnet) Thinly Sliced
- Curry Leaves Roughly chopped
- 1 Can Tuna Drained
- 1 Cup Grated Coconut
- 1 Lime Juiced
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Peel and chop the pumpkin into chunks. Boil until completely tender, then drain and mash until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the thinly sliced onion, Githeyo Mirus, and curry leaves. Squeeze the lime juice over, add salt, and crush and mix everything together firmly with your hands until the onion softens slightly and releases its juices.
- Add the drained tuna and grated coconut to the bowl. Mix well until everything is evenly combined.
- Add the mashed pumpkin last and gently fold it into the mixture until fully incorporated.
- Serve at room temperature with some roshi.
Video
@nothussainali both the cooking and voiceover was chaotic 😭 but this the best mashuni variant fight me #recipe #baraboamashuni #mashuni #dhivehi #Maldivianfood #cooktok #maldivestiktok
♬ original sound – Hussain Ali