Madagascar and its typical food

If you visit the southeast of Africa, Madagascar and its typical food They are one of the great surprises of the area. This country made up of the fourth largest island in the world and other smaller ones has a nature as exuberant as it is beautiful.

As for its gastronomy, you will be shocked by the variety of flavors and recipes that you can enjoy and that synthesize the cuisine of the different peoples that have passed through their territories. However, in general, it is simple dishes to prepare and with ingredients, in some cases, quite curious. Next, we are going to talk to you about Madagascar and its typical food.

What is typical Madagascar food like?

As we announced, the gastronomy of Madagascar is result of the different cultures that have come to the nation. Its first colonizers were sailors from Borneo in the first century after Christ. But the Arabs, the Indians and the Chinese were also there, as well as the Portuguese and, already in the XNUMXth century, the French, who have had a great influence on the typical desserts that you can taste today.

In any case, the basis of Malagasy cuisine, the name of its inhabitants and the language they speak along with French, is rice. It is grown in large terraces throughout the country. It is eaten with an accompaniment that, in general, is called laoka. This can be of many types, but it is composed, above all, of vegetables and meat.

Furthermore, it adds a flavored sauce which is usually prepared with garlic, onion, tomato, salt, ginger, vanilla and curry powder (the latter inherited from the Indians). However, in some areas of the south and west of the island, rice can sometimes be replaced by corn, cassava and even fermented zebu milk, a bovine species also originally brought from Asia.

So popular is rice, called vary in Malagasy, which is prepared in a thousand ways and is even eaten as a garnish in other recipes. For example, for breakfast they make a porridge called vary sosoa and that, sometimes, it is done in a different way. Its about vary amin'anana, which, in addition to rice, has chopped vegetables and meat.

In short, the gastronomy of Madagascar is the result of all the influences that we have mentioned. Thus, today it consists of simple dishes along with other more elaborate and lavish dishes that were served to the country's aristocracy in the XNUMXth century.

Where to enjoy traditional Madagascar cuisine?

Before starting to tell you about its most famous dishes, we want to show you some customs regarding Madagascar and its typical food. Logically, you can taste it in its restaurants. You even have some that combine native cuisine with modern and cosmopolitan recipes, especially in the capital, Antananarivo.

But it is traditional to meet street food vendors on the streets. They mainly offer sandwiches and rice dishes. However, perhaps the most typical are the gargots. These are roadside stands that offer you different recipes.

On the other hand, if you sit down to eat with Malagasy people, there is a custom that you should know. It is that, if there is an old man, no one can start eating before him. However, this ancient habit that shows their culture's respect for elders has been largely lost. In fact, it is only applied in some rural areas. With all these previous questions clarified, we are going to see some typical Madagascar dishes based on when they are usually eaten.

Breakfast

As happens in almost all countries in the world, breakfasts are different in each region of the country. However, it is usually composed of coffee or tea, although also coconut milkas well as bread and fresh fruits. With these, delicious jams are made.

But, as it could not be otherwise, rice is also present in Malagasy breakfasts. We have already mentioned some porridges that are made with it. Also, you can ask koba. It is a rice and peanut paste that is wrapped in a banana leaf. It is one of the best sellers in street stalls and is also usually accompanied by Shortbread of different flavors. Lastly, the mokary It is a steamed rice cake with coconut milk.

Typical foods in Madagascar

Both lunches and dinners in Madagascar are made up of fish, meat and vegetable or fruit dishes, without forgetting, due to being repetitive, rice. As for the former, they are usually grilled or grilled. And, regarding the third ones, some of the most popular are cassava, eggplant, tomato or carrot, and pineapple, banana, mango or lychee. The latter, less known, is a fruit from Asia that has a sweet and delicious flavor.

The mofo anana and other breads

Mofo anana literally means "bread and green leafy vegetables". Therefore, these are its main ingredient along with the flour dough itself. Both are mixed well and fried to create a kind of fritter that is eaten with a spicy chili, garlic and ginger sauce.

For its part, the sambusa It resembles the popular Indian samosa. Like this one, it is a triangle filled, in its case with meat and potatoes. However, it is less itchy than its model. In fact, street vendors often carry a jar of sauce for those who want more heat in their sambusa.

But, perhaps, the most typical bread of Madagascar is gasy mofo. It is so popular that it is also called Malagasy bread. In its case, it is sweet, since it is made with flour, yeast, water, cream of rice and sugar. In addition, maple syrup is usually added and it is taken with fruits.

Lasopy and other stews

If we talk about Madagascar and its typical food, the lasopy is, perhaps, the most popular puree of how many are made in the country. It is prepared with zebu bones to give it a meaty taste and with different kinds of vegetables. Above all, carrots, turnips, leeks and tomatoes are used.

However, in some areas potatoes and beans are also added. Finally, add a little black pepper. It is a dish that you will find in many restaurants and that is as tasty as it is light and healthy.

On the other hand, among the stews of Malagasy cuisine, you should try the romazava, but only if you accept the spice well. Because this recipe is made with a typical flower of the island called bredes mafana which has small yellow dots that are very itchy. In addition, it has zebu meat seasoned with ginger, tomato and chard. Likewise, it is eaten with rice and rougail sauce, which is also made with ginger, tomato and lemon.

Mosakiky and other meat dishes

With meat from the back of the zebu, various fruits and vegetables, the mosakiky, a typical dish that is served as an appetizer forming skewers. On the other hand, with pork and cassava leaves the ravitoto. Likewise, it is usually eaten with rice and sautéed onion. However, sometimes it is only cooked as mashed cassava leaves and eaten as a light dish or as an accompaniment to other recipes. In this case, coconut milk and spices are usually added.

For its part, the hen'omby rytra It consists of cubes of beef that are seasoned with salt, garlic and ginger following an ancient formula. However, perhaps more famous is chicken in coconut milk. To cook it, you start by marinating the meat with lemon juice and zest, salt and pepper. Then it is fried and sautéed with garlic and chopped onion. In addition, tomato dipped in ginger powder is added. To finish preparing it, add the coconut milk and let it cook.

As for the sausages, you must try the sesika, which looks very similar to our blood sausage. It is meat, usually pork, to which bacon and carrots are added and seasoned with garlic, chives, pepper and ginger.

Smalona and other fish and seafood

La smalona It is nothing more than smoked eel that is stuffed with small pieces of mushrooms, onions, apples and olives. It is a highly appreciated dish in Madagascar, but not the only one made with fish. Also popular is Malagasy style tilapia or accompanied by a sauce made with watercress, tomatoes, garlic, onions, ginger and other herbs.

More curious is the foza s and henakisoa, a stir-fry of crab, pork, lime juice and ginger. We can tell you the same thing about the ravimbomanga sy patsamena, which has dried shrimp with beef, tomato sauce and potato leaves.

Typical desserts from Madagascar

To finish our article about Madagascar and its typical food, we will recommend some desserts from Malagasy cuisine. The most famous is probably the mofo mangahazo, a cassava cake. But you also have the koba akondro, which is made with bananas, peanuts, rice and vanilla. Wave ramanonaka, which is based on rice flour.

In conclusion, we have shown you everything you need to know about Madagascar and its typical food. It only remains for us to advise you that Visit the African country and enjoy its wonders. These, of course, also include your gastronomy. Go ahead and try it.