Mauritian cuisine

Mauritian Cuisine is the culinary style originating from the island nation of Mauritius. Influenced by its history of settlers, the cuisine is a blend of Creole, African, French, Chinese and Indian cuisines.

History

The history of Mauritian cuisine dates back to the 17th century when the island was first discovered by the Dutch. The cuisine has evolved over centuries, with each wave of new settlers bringing their own culinary traditions. The French brought their sophisticated cooking techniques, the Indians introduced spices and vegetarian dishes, the Chinese brought stir-frying methods and the Africans introduced exotic fruits and vegetables.

Ingredients

The staple ingredients in Mauritian cuisine include rice, fresh fish, seafood, tropical fruits, and a variety of spices. Chilli is also a common ingredient, used in many dishes to add heat and flavor. Other common ingredients include garlic, ginger, onions, and tomatoes.

Popular Dishes

Some of the most popular dishes in Mauritian cuisine include:

• Dholl Puri: A popular street food, Dholl Puri is a flatbread stuffed with ground yellow split peas.
• Biryani: A flavorful rice dish cooked with meat, fish or vegetables and a blend of spices.
• Rougaille: A Creole dish made with tomatoes, garlic, onions and spices, often served with rice or bread.
• Mine Frites: A Chinese-inspired dish, Mine Frites is a stir-fried noodle dish often cooked with chicken, prawns or pork.

Beverages

Mauritian cuisine also includes a variety of beverages. Alouda, a sweet milk beverage flavored with basil seeds, is a popular drink. Rum is also a popular alcoholic beverage, with many distilleries on the island producing their own brands.

See Also

• Creole cuisine
• Indian cuisine
• Chinese cuisine
• African cuisine
• French cuisine