Food of Mauritius

Mauritian cuisine is a rich blend of Indian, Creole, Chinese and French influences. Biryani, rougaille, dholl puri and Chinese-style noodles share the table, and seafood and tropical fruits are everyday fare. Street food is lively, with gato piment and fried snacks.

National dish

Dholl puri

Thin flatbread filled with ground yellow split peas.

Staples

  • rice
  • lentils
  • fish
  • chicken
  • curry leaves
  • palm hearts

Signature flavors

  • curry leaves
  • thyme
  • ginger
  • chili
  • tomato
  • coriander

Main dishes

Dholl puri

Thin flatbread filled with ground yellow split peas.

Key ingredients: flour, split peas
Mauritian biryani

A traditional dish of Mauritius made with rice, chicken, saffron, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: rice, chicken, saffron
Rougaille

Spicy Creole tomato sauce with fish or sausage.

Key ingredients: tomato, thyme, fish
Fish vindaye

A traditional dish of Mauritius made with fish, mustard, turmeric, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: fish, mustard, turmeric
Mine frite

A traditional dish of Mauritius made with noodles, vegetables, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: noodles, vegetables
Gateau arouille

A traditional dish of Mauritius made with taro, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: taro
Octopus curry

A traditional dish of Mauritius made with octopus, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: octopus
Venison curry

A traditional dish of Mauritius made with venison, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: venison

Breakfast

Farata

A traditional breakfast dish of Mauritius made with flour, ghee, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: flour, ghee
Roti and chutney

A traditional breakfast dish of Mauritius made with flour, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: flour

Street food

Gateau piment

A traditional street snack of Mauritius made with split peas, chili, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: split peas, chili
Samosa
Samosa

A traditional street snack of Mauritius made with flour, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: flourFull guide →
Boulettes

A traditional street snack of Mauritius made with fish, flour, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: fish, flour
Bol renverse

A traditional street snack of Mauritius made with rice, egg, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: rice, egg

Soups

Bouillon brede

A traditional soup of Mauritius made with greens, tomato, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: greens, tomato

Salads

Salade de palmiste

A traditional salad of Mauritius made with palm heart, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: palm heart

Desserts and sweets

Napolitaine

A traditional sweet treat of Mauritius made with flour, jam, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: flour, jam
Gato la cire

A traditional sweet treat of Mauritius made with flour, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: flour
Halwa
Halwa

A traditional sweet treat of Mauritius made with sugar, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: sugarFull guide →

Drinks

Alouda

A traditional drink of Mauritius made with milk, basil seeds, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: milk, basil seeds
Vanilla tea

A traditional drink of Mauritius made with tea, vanilla, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: tea, vanilla
Sugarcane juice

A traditional drink of Mauritius made with sugarcane, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: sugarcane

Fruits and produce

Litchi
Litchi

Litchi is a well-loved fruit or crop in Mauritius, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: lycheeFull guide →
Mango
Mango

Mango is a well-loved fruit or crop in Mauritius, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: mangoFull guide →
Pineapple
Pineapple

Pineapple is a well-loved fruit or crop in Mauritius, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: pineappleFull guide →
Coconut
Coconut

Coconut is a well-loved fruit or crop in Mauritius, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: coconutFull guide →

Dish guides from Mauritius

Coconut
CoconutFruits
Halva
HalvaDesserts and sweets
Lychee
LycheeFruits
Mango
MangoFruits
Pineapple
PineappleFruits
Samosa
SamosaStreet food
Explore Mauritius on Geographical EffectMaps, capital and cities, population, climate, landscapes and landmarks.

More cuisines of Eastern Africa

About this page

Descriptions written by Intercontinental Chef. Dishes are listed as commonly eaten today; many are shared across neighbouring countries.

Photo credits
  • Samosas, snack food at Wikipedia's 16th Birthday celebration in Chittagong (01): Moheen Reeyad, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Orient sweets (special halva) Samarkand, Siyab: Shuhrenataxmedov, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Litchi chinensis fruits: B.navez, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Mangos - single and halved: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • കൈതച്ചക്ക: Suniltg at Malayalam Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Cocos nucifera - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-187: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)