Mas Huni: The Classic Maldivian Breakfast
Ask a Maldivian what they ate for breakfast and the answer, more often than not, is mas huni. This mixture of shredded tuna, grated coconut, onion and chilli, scooped up with warm roshi flatbread and washed down with sweet black tea, is the definitive start to the day across the islands.
What goes into mas huni
The classic recipe is short: smoked or cured tuna shredded finely, freshly grated coconut, thinly sliced onion, chopped chilli, and a squeeze of lime with a pinch of salt. Everything is combined by hand into a moist, savoury mixture. The tuna traditionally used is valhoamas — smoked and dried tuna — though fresh cooked tuna and even tinned tuna appear in modern kitchens.
The role of roshi
Mas huni is almost always eaten with roshi, a thin unleavened flatbread similar to chapati. Torn pieces of roshi are used to pinch up mouthfuls of the mixture. The combination of warm bread, cool coconut, salty fish and sharp onion is simple and addictive. A glass of hot, sweet black tea — sai — completes the traditional breakfast.
Variations worth trying
- Kulhi mas huni — a spicier version with more chilli.
- Barabo mas huni — made with grated pumpkin folded through.
- Kopee fai mas huni — with shredded local greens.
- Huni roshi — coconut worked into the flatbread itself.
Where to eat it
On any inhabited island, local tea shops serve mas huni every morning, usually until it runs out. Guesthouses on islands such as Maafushi and Thulusdhoo commonly offer it as part of breakfast, and many resorts include a Maldivian corner at the breakfast buffet where mas huni and roshi sit alongside international fare. Eating it in a local café, surrounded by islanders starting their day, is one of the simplest and most authentic experiences the Maldives offers.
Make it at home
Mas huni travels well as a recipe. Combine a tin of good tuna (drained), half a cup of finely grated fresh coconut, half a small red onion sliced as thinly as possible, one chopped chilli, lime juice and salt. Massage together with your fingers and serve with any warm flatbread. It will not be quite the same without valhoamas and just-grated island coconut, but it comes close.
FAQ
Is mas huni eaten only at breakfast?
Breakfast is its home, but Maldivians happily eat mas huni at any time of day, and tea shops may serve it into the afternoon.
Is mas huni spicy?
Mildly. Chilli is part of the mix, but the coconut softens the heat. Spicier versions exist for those who want them.
What drink goes with mas huni?
Sweet black tea is the traditional partner, served hot in small glasses at tea shops across the islands.
