12 Must-Try Mauritian Dishes You Can Enjoy at Home
Ever wished you could enjoy your favourite Mauritian dish without waiting for a family gathering or a trip back home?
Good news – you can.
Mauritian cuisine is a flavourful blend of Creole, Indian, Chinese, and French influences, known for its vibrant spices, tomato-based sauces, and simple, homestyle cooking. Many classic dishes are surprisingly easy to prepare with basic ingredients available in most UK kitchens — or delivered directly to your door.
In this guide, you’ll get to know about 12 authentic Mauritian dishes you can cook at home, plus the pantry essentials you need to get started.
What Makes Mauritian Dishes So Unique?
Mauritian food is a blend of Creole, Indian, Chinese, and French influences. This mix creates bold flavours using tomatoes, thyme, curry leaves, garlic, ginger, and chilli. Most dishes are homestyle, comforting, and easy to cook with basic spices.
Nutritional Value & Health Benefits
- Rich in plant protein & fibre: Lentils and split peas (used in dholl and dholl puri) help with digestion and staying full. A 100 g serving of cooked lentils has about 9 g of protein and 7–8 g fibre.
- High in vitamins: Tropical fruits and local greens provide vitamin C, iron, calcium, and antioxidants, which support immunity and energy.
- Anti-inflammatory spices: Turmeric, ginger, garlic, and curry leaves are known for reducing inflammation and supporting overall health.
- Heart-healthy seafood: Fish like red snapper supply omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked to better heart and brain health.
- Balanced meals: Many Mauritian dishes naturally combine carbs, protein, and vegetables making them satisfying and nutritious.
12 Mauritian Foods You Can Prepare Easily
Below is a simple explanation of each dish, plus ingredient links. Each item now includes a brief taste profile and difficulty level to help beginners.
1. Dholl Puri
Soft split-pea flatbread filled with yellow split peas considered Mauritius’ most iconic street food.
Flavour profile: Mild, earthy, warm, soft in texture, slightly spiced, comforting.
Cook time: medium 45 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Spices
→ Lentils
→ Condiments
2. Farata (Roti)
A flaky, layered flatbread ideal for scooping up curry or rougaille.
Flavour profile: Mild and buttery in flavour.
Cook time: Easy 20 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Spices
→ Curry mixes
3. Rougaille
A bright tomato-based sauce with onions, garlic, thyme, and your choice of protein.
Flavour profile: Light, tangy, home-style comfort.
Cook time: Easy 30 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Condiments
→ Spices
4. Mine Frite
A quick wok-fried noodle dish with soy and tomato flavours. Add chicken, prawns, tofu, or veg for an easy weekday meal.
Flavour profile: Savory, lightly smoky, soy-rich, slightly sweet, umami, peppery, wok-fried aroma.
Cook time: Easy 15 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Noodles
→ Sauces
5. Bol Renverse (“Upside-Down Bowl”)
A glossy stir-fry of chicken or vegetables served over rice. Flip it over for its signature dome shape.
Flavour profile: Savoury, sweet, and satisfying.
Cook time: Medium 35 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Rice
→ Sauces
6. Mauritian Biryani
Aromatic rice layered with spices, fried onions, and marinated chicken or veg.
Flavour profile: Aromatic, lightly spiced, herb-infused, fragrant, rich yet balanced, saffron-tinged, mildly tangy from yogurt.
Cook time: Medium 1 hour
Shop ingredients:
→ Rice
→ Spices
7. Vindaye (Fish or Veg)
A mustard-based pickled curry using turmeric, mustard seeds, garlic, and chillies.
Flavour profile: Tangy and bold.
Cook time: Easy 25 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Spices
→ Mustard seeds
8. Cari Poulet (Chicken Curry)
A classic Mauritian chicken curry with masala, curry leaves, turmeric, and herbs.
Flavour profile: Rich and flavourful.
Cook time: Medium 40 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Spices
→ Masala blends
9. Gateaux Piments
Crispy lentil fritters made from split peas, chillies, and herbs. Great for snacks or tea time.
Flavour profile: Crispy, spicy, earthy, herbaceous, savoury, mildly nutty, addictive.
Cook time: Easy 25 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Lentils
→ Spices
10. Achard Legumes
Crunchy pickled vegetables mixed with mustard seeds, turmeric, and vinegar. Perfect as a side or sandwich filling.
Flavour profile: Tangy, spicy, crunchy, mustard-infused, turmeric-rich, zesty, lightly pickled.
Cook time: Easy 20 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Condiments
→ Pickles
11. Alouda
A sweet, refreshing milk drink with basil seeds and vanilla — a popular Mauritian treat.
Flavour profile: Sweet, creamy, vanilla-rich, refreshing, lightly floral, chilled, silky.
Cook time: Easy 10 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Tea & drinks
12. Napolitaines
Shortbread-style cookies filled with jam and covered with pink icing.
Flavour profile: Soft, crumbly, and nostalgic.
Cook time: Easy 30 mins
Shop ingredients:
→ Sweets & biscuits
Build Your Mauritian Pantry
These essentials will help you make most beginner-friendly Mauritian recipes, from rougaille to dholl puri.
Essential Items
- Mauritian curry powder / masala
- Mazavaroo (red or green chilli paste)
- Piment tamarin (tamarind chilli paste)
- Split peas (chana dal)
- Long-grain or basmati rice
- Noodles for mine frite
- Vanilla black tea
- Vanilla extract or beans
- Achard (pickled vegetables)
- Chutneys & table sauces
Shop the essentials:
→ Spices
→ Condiments
→ Noodles
→ Rice & grains
→ Lentils & beans
→ Tea
→ Sweets & biscuits
3 Super-Easy Mauritian Recipes to Try First
Perfect for beginners and weeknight cooking.
1. Classic Rougaille
Bright, tomato-based sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and thyme. Add eggs, tofu, sausages, or fish.
Tip: Add coriander for extra freshness.
Shop ingredients: spices, condiments, sauces.
Cook time: 30 mins
2. Gateaux Piments
Soak lentils, grind with spices, shape into small balls, and fry or air-fry.
Tip: Add spring onions for an authentic flavour boost.
Shop ingredients: lentils, spices.
Cook time: 25 mins
3. Mine Frite
Par-boil noodles, stir-fry with veg, add protein, then season with soy and tomato sauce.
Tip: Sesame oil adds the signature Mauritian aroma.
Shop ingredients: noodles, sauces.
Cook time: 15 mins
Your Printable Shopping List
Starter Bundle
- Curry powder
- Mazavaroo
- Split peas
- Noodles
- Vanilla tea
Nice-to-Have Add-Ons
- Achard
- Piment tamarin
- Chutneys
- Vanilla extract
- Sweets & biscuits
Conclusion
Now that you’ve seen how easy it is to enjoy these 12 Mauritian dishes at home, you can start cooking the meals you grew up with — or discover them for the first time. From soft dholl puri to comforting cari poulet and classic napolitaines, Mauritian cuisine is simple, flavourful, and built on pantry staples like curry powder, lentils, noodles, and chutneys.
If you’re ready to build your Mauritian pantry, you can get authentic spices, condiments, noodles, sweets, and cooking essentials delivered across the UK at MauritianFoodsOnline — the same ingredients used in kitchens across Mauritius.
FAQs
1. What are the most common Mauritian ingredients used in home cooking?
Typical Mauritian home cooking uses tomatoes, curry leaves, thyme, turmeric, masala, garlic, ginger, and chilli pastes like mazavaroo. Staples such as split peas, basmati rice, and noodles are also widely used. These ingredients form the base of dishes like rougaille, cari poulet, mine frite, and dholl puri.
2. Where can I buy authentic Mauritian ingredients in the UK?
You can buy authentic Mauritian spices, noodles, masalas, chilli pastes, pickles, and condiments directly from MauritianFoodsOnline, which ships across the UK. This is especially useful for items that are hard to find in supermarkets, such as mazavaroo, piment tamarin, and Mauritian curry powder.
3. Are Mauritian dishes easy to cook for beginners?
Yes, most Mauritian dishes are beginner-friendly. Recipes like rougaille, mine frite, gateaux piments, and Farata require basic techniques and everyday ingredients. Even more complex dishes like briyani can be simplified using ready-made spice blends.
4. Are Mauritian dishes budget-friendly to cook in the UK?
Yes. Staples like split peas, lentils, rice, and noodles are affordable. Sauces and spices last for many meals, making Mauritian home cooking cheaper than takeaways or restaurant dishes.
5. What makes Mauritian curry different from Indian or Caribbean curry?
Mauritian curry is milder and less oily than many Indian curries. It uses a unique Mauritian masala blend, turmeric, curry leaves, and tomatoes for brightness. Compared to Caribbean curry, Mauritian curry has fewer warming spices and leans more on herbs and aromatics.
6. Are Mauritian dishes suitable for vegetarians or vegans in the UK?
Absolutely. Many Mauritian staples are naturally plant-based — including rougaille tofu, dholl, gateaux piments, mine frite, and achard. Most dishes are easy to adapt in the UK using accessible ingredients like tofu, lentils, and fresh vegetables.
7. What Mauritian dish should I cook first if I’m unfamiliar with the cuisine?
Begin with rougaille — a simple tomato-based sauce that pairs with eggs, sausages, tofu, or fish. Mine frite is another great starter for beginners, especially if you enjoy noodle dishes. Both use basic UK-available ingredients.
8. Are Mauritian dishes nutritious?
Yes. Many Mauritian meals are naturally balanced with protein, fibre, spices, and fresh vegetables. Dishes like dholl, curries, and seafood provide key nutrients and anti-inflammatory benefits. For a full breakdown, see our guide on the nutritional value of Mauritian foods.
9. Can I make Mauritian food if I don’t have all the traditional ingredients?
Yes. Many dishes have easy UK-friendly substitutions.
- If you don’t have Mazavaroo, use a mild chilli paste + fresh chilli
- If Mauritian masala is unavailable, use a mild curry powder with extra turmeric
- For dholl puri, you can use chana dal or yellow split peas
