Mauritian Cuisine

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Cuisines of Mauritius


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createpageform-mauritian Mauritius is a wonderful island situated in the Indian Ocean nearby the Coasts of Africa. While in this country the cuisine that this country has might amaze one, a special cuisine described by people as being a “paradise for senses”. Mauritius cuisine is very complex and over the time felt various influences from many peoples that passed over her lands. All kind of ingredients coming from India, France, China or Muslim culture has been passed on through many generations. Influences that came from these countries, influence brought by immigrants or slaves, have been adapted to the traditional Mauritius cuisine. Its been said that a typical day in Mauritius starts with a continental breakfast, continues with an Indian lunch and ends with a Chinese dinner. First people that ever came on this island and brought changes to Mautitius cuisine were the French in the 17th century. The exquisite Indian cuisine appeared during the 19th century after the slavery was abolished. And finally, at the end of the 19th century, the Chinese immigrants that were mostly coming from the south-east parts of China, brought with them many of today’s special ingredients used in Mauritius cuisine.

Mauritian Food Glossary
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Preparation Methods for Mauritian Cooking
Mauritius cuisine uses elements from various cooking traditions borrowed from their neighbors and developed from their own traditional dishes. While there are no specific or unique preparation methods for Mauritius cooking, we should point out that attention to detail is important in the Mauritius cuisine. Using the right amount of spices for example is essential – either for spicing up the taste or for coloring the dish. The diversity of vegetables and cereals found in Mauritius is also noticed in the delicious dishes belonging to their cuisine. The visual attractiveness of the dish is also important, and a balance between colors and proportion differentiates. Each traditional dish has a special cooking method, which is more or less general in all of Mauritius’s regions. Meat is one of the main elements of most Mauritius dishes and cured and smoked hams are often parts of delicious dishes.

Special Equipment for Mauritian Cooking
Ranging from cake pans, can openers, colanders, egg rings, poachers and holders, food dishers & portioners, food pans & food containers to other kitchen utensils, such as food scales, food scoops and fryer baskets & accessories, the Mauritius cuisine needs a diverse cooking equipment set in order to produce the most sophisticated Mauritius dishes. You should consider insulated food carriers if you are transporting the food and a full set of kitchen linens and uniforms if you wish to look like a pro. Here are a few other items that will come handy while cooking Mauritius food: juicers, kitchen knives, kitchen slicers, kitchen thermometers, measuring cups & measuring spoons, miscellaneous utensils, mixing bowls and skimmers & strainers. Essential utensils like serving spoons, spatulas, forks, turners, scrapers and tongs should also be part of your cooking "arsenal".

Mauritian Food Traditions and Festivals
Due to the high ethnical diversity, from three different continents, Mauritius festivals and food traditions have many ways of celebration and combine all kind of ingredients and dishes. Being a very religious people Mauritians celebrate their festivals with much devotion and fervor. Most of the festivals in Mauritius have religious origins and that is why some of them became national ones. There are Hindu celebration like Maha Shivaratree, Cavadee hindu, Holi and Divali. Divali is called the festival of lights and during it fruitcakes are baked and shared with neighbors and family. Father Laval Day is a holiday celebrated by all people no matter if they are Christians, Muslims or Hindu. During this holiday, which has French origins many different types of meat, dishes are served. Chinese communities are celebrating in the month of March the spring festival or the New Year’s Day. During this festival traditional chinese dishes such as Congee, Hunan Chow mein, Shui Mai or Stir-Fried Broccoli and Chinese Mushrooms are served. Eid-Ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday celebrating the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

People in Mauritian Food
There are many chefs who creatively use the basic ingredients and cooking method for traditional Mauritius dishes and create original and delicious food variations. Mauritius chefs are passionate about their traditional dishes and they enjoy presenting them to foreigners who has never tasted them before. Whether they are cooking dishes that go back in time for centuries or brand new, modern dishes, Mauritius chefs take pride in what they do, and this is readily noticeable in the unforgettable taste of their cooking.
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