Sun Dried Maldives Fish

It is a boiled, smoked and sun dried fish from Maldives. Usually it is tuna. It is used in Sri Lankan or Maldive cuisine to provide the dish with it its specific flavor and proteins. It is called Umbalakada in Sri Lanka.

Many dishes, especially vegetable curries, also include Maldive fish, which acts as a thickening, flavoring and protein component. In other dishes it is used in such small quantities that the flavor is undetectable, adding a certain character to the food. Maldive fish is the answer to the shrimp pastes and fish sauces of South East Asia.