“Biss keemiya” – a Maldivian afternoon tea snack

Today I have something more exotic for you, a recipe from the beautiful Maldives islands.

Biss Keemyia is a deep-fried pastry pouch filled with crisp cabbage, hard-boiled eggs, and spices. Quite similar to an egg roll or an Indian samosa. It is a traditional Maldivian snack served during afternoon tea. 

I’m using fresh curry leaves in this recipe but don’t mistake them for curry powder; they have nothing to do with it. Curry powder is a mix of different spices like coriander, turmeric, cumin, cayenne, etc. But most of the time, it doesn’t contain curry leaves. 

Curry leaves have a distinct flavor - a little bit smoky, citrus-like, that’s unlike any other herb or spice. If you are lucky to find them (usually Indian grocery stores carry them), buy a bunch or two, wash them well, put them in a zip lock bag, and store them in your freezer. You can also find dried curry leaves on Amazon. If you can’t find any curry leaves, simply skip them. 

My favorite beach in the World, JA Manafaru 

Recipe for Biss Keemiya on Patreon