The Maldives – Traditional Kulhi Boakibaa

by Fariha Saeed

About the dish

Kulhi Boakibaa is one of the most famous savory desserts in the Maldives. It is basically made of tuna fish and spices and this is why it is called savory dessert. Tuna is the most important component of this cake because without tuna this cake can not be made. This is a type of tea cake. This goes very well with sweet tea because the cake is savory and the tea is sweet. It is so easy to make. This cake is not spongy like normal cakes but the taste is so appetizing. Everyone should try this once in their lifetime. This cake is soft and a little chewy. This is very similar to Aluvi Boakibaa but the difference is Aluvi Boakibaa cake is made of coconut and it is sweet. Kulhi Boakibaa is made of tuna and it is savory. Tuna is used shredded to add some texture to the cake so it will taste more good. It is smooth from the inside and a little hard from the outside. The important part of this dish is you have to bake it fresh because it tastes so delicious when it is freshly baked. You can serve to these parties, gatherings, or any event as a snack, appetizer, or even as a main course with some kind of type. You can serve this with:

• Mrinara sauce
• ketchup
• Peri peri sauce
• hot sauce
• coconut sauce
• coconut cream
• Yougurt sauce
• oyster sauce

You can add also some vegetables to make it healthy like potato, peas, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, You can also have a salad with it. A healthy person should have this cake with vegetables inside of it or with salad because vegetables are a natural source of fiber, built strong bones, protect your heart, and many more benefits. You can always find this at street vendors. People wait for hours in line to have this freshly baked cake. The other name of this cake is savory cake or fish cake. Some people like to have this with sauces but some people do not like sauce so you can add some fresh coconut cream on top of it. To add some smoothness to the cake.

History

This recipe was made by a famous chef of the Maldives in early times, he served this to some people and that become very popular in the Maldives and people like calling it fish cake which is famous till now. He served this first time with coconut cream on top but now people like to have this with sauce but some people like coconut cream as well.

Nutrition list

• Calories 187
• protein 9 g
• carbs 213

Ingredients

• All purpose flour 2 cup
• tuna 1/2 cup
• coconut milk 1
• salt 1 tsp
• red chili 2 tsp
• lemon juice 4 tsp
• oyster sauce 4 tbsp

Cooking

Take a pan and add the tuna and oyster sauce to it and saute it for 15 minutes. Now add the salt, red chili, lemon sauce, and coconut milk in it, and then again saute it for 15 minutes.

Now take a bowl and transfer the mixture to the bowl and add the flour to it and mix very well. Make sure that there are no lumps because if it has been lumped it will ruin the whole cake.

Now bake the cake for 20 minutes and then serve with any sauce or coconut cream on top.