Madagascar food: 10 mouth-watering dishes from the island.

We all agree that Madagascar is a special island that in the past few years has become relevant and has been added to numerous travellers bucket list. Visitors from around the globe come to this African island not only for its beautiful beaches and lively atmosphere but also to discover one of the most interesting cuisines not only in Africa but also in the world. The delicious cuisine of Madagascar is the reflection of a fabulous blend of the different cultures and people that had made of Madagascar their homeland. French, Arabs, Indonesians and Africans have added their ingredients as well as their souls to make what nowadays we all known as Malagasy Cuisine.

Have you ever been to Africa? If so, you might be aware that most of its dishes include huge portions of rice and Madagascar is not an exception. But, in addition to the rice, most of the dishes also include meat seasoned with clove, garlic, lime juice and vanilla as well as of course a generous portion of vegetables. Traditional meals in Madagascar contain one main dish of meat, fish or poultry with a side dish of local vegetables and the big bowl of rice. The result: a delicious and nutritious culinary option. So, if you want to try some Malagasy delicatessen, we invite you to check out 10 mouth-watering dishes from Madagascar.

Madagascar food

Lasary

Lasary is probably the most famous and popular dish in Madagascar. It’s not an only dish itself, in fact, it’s a side dish for fish or meat. The dish is the result of a mix of cabbage, carrots, onions, green beans and vinaigrette.

Kaka Pizon (caca pigeon)

Ok, maybe the name of this crispy treat is not the most appropriate, however, don’t let its name put you off for trying the quintessential street food in Madagascar. Kaka pizon taste like fried wonton and make the perfect substitute for crisps. Also, in some areas of the country, you can buy them with chilli paste.

Foza sy henakisoa

Visiting Madagascar and not try this dish is like visiting Spain and avoids delicious paella. Foza sy hena-kisoa is the results of a delicious mix of stir-fried crab, lobster, pork, lime juice and ginger. Also, like most dishes of Madagascar, the Foza sy hena-kisoa is served with a bowl of rice.

Sesika

If you are a big fan of the Black pudding, you might love Sesika. Nevertheless, we all know black pudding is made mainly from pork blood; Sesika is made mainly from poultry blood. Sesika also has some other parts of poultry all of them seasoned with local spices. Don’t deprive yourself of this special and unique Madagascar food, when travelling it’s important to keep an open mind attitude.

Akoho sy voanio

The Coconut chicken is a typical Christmas dinner in Madagascar. It’s not hard to prepare a delicious chicken in coconut milk; in fact, you just need to add onion, tomatoes and ginger.  Akoho sy voanio is the main dish; don’t forget to add some rice to finish the whole experience.

Voanjobory sy henakisoa

If you want to try a unique and delicious dish from Madagascar food, you must try the “Bambara ground peas and pork”. The main ingredients are pork, Bambara ground peas, onion, garlic, tomatoes and water. Voanjobory sy henakisoa is a pre-colonial dish, eaten during Merina Royal festivals. Nowadays, there are numerous restaurants that serve this delicious option.

Smalona

Do you like “unagi”? If so, you are aware that the “unagi” is an eel. If you have tried eel at a sushi bar, you cannot miss the opportunity for trying Smalona, which is eel in Malagasy. To prepare delicious Smalona, firstly eels are smoked, then mushrooms, onions, apples and olives are packed inside of them. Stuffed Smalona is very appreciated in Madagascar so if you decide to try it, you will enjoy an incredible culinary experience.

Mofo Mangahazo

On this post, we have spoken about the main dishes of Madagascar, but we haven’t mentioned the sweatiest treats of this beautiful island. Let’s start with the most famous and delicious dessert of Madagascar: The Cassava Cake. It’s true that there are several ways to prepare this ingredient, very important in the basic diet of Malagasy; however, the Mofo Mangahazo is probably the most delicious way to do it.

Koba akondro

Continuing with delicious desserts, the “Koba akondro” is another fabulous way to introduce you to the delicious Madagascar food traditions. This dessert, mainly made with banana, rice, vanilla and peanuts, is certainly a delicious sensory-explosion in your mouth.

Ranovola

Undoubtedly, Madagascar food is not only special but unique. We can say that you won’t find many areas where you can drink a tea made of burnt rice. If you are not a good cooker, you have the perfect excuse to burn the rice and never feel guilty. Do you want to prepare this delicious drink? If so, simply add water to your burnt rice and leave it for a couple of hours in the fridge.

So, here our list of 10 mouth-watering dishes from the island, tell us, which one do you like the most? Have you ever tried any Madagascar food? Can you tell us more dishes? Comment!