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Vegetable romazava
Mixed greens and ginger broth
Madagascar's broth of mixed greens, ginger and tomato with brèdes mafana
Romazava is often called the national dish of Madagascar: a light, gingery broth of several kinds of leafy greens (brèdes) and tomato, ladled over a big plate of rice. In Antananarivo it usually includes zebu beef; this vegetable version keeps the essential leaves, especially brèdes mafana (paracress), whose flowers and leaves make the mouth tingle. Spinach, watercress and mustard greens work well outside Madagascar. Chef's tip: add the greens in order of toughness and stop as soon as they are tender; romazava should taste fresh and green, not stewed.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 3 cloves garliccrushed
- 2 tbsp fresh gingergrated
- 3 tomatoeschopped
- 1 potatodiced
- 1.2 litres vegetable stock
- 7 oz mustard greens or pak choishredded
- 3 ½ oz watercress
- 7 oz spinach
- 1 ¾ oz brèdes mafana (paracress) (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp sakay or chilli paste (optional)to serve
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a pot over a medium heat and cook 1 onion for 5 minutes until soft. Add 3 cloves garlic and 2 tbsp fresh ginger for 1 minute, then 3 tomatoes; cook for 5 minutes until they break down.
11 minStep 2: Add 1 potato, 1.2 litres vegetable stock and 1 tsp salt and simmer for 12 minutes until the potato is tender.
12 minStep 3: Add 7 oz mustard greens or pak choi and simmer for 3 minutes, then 3 ½ oz watercress, 7 oz spinach and 1 ¾ oz brèdes mafana (paracress) for 2 minutes more, until wilted and still bright green. Common mistake: boiling the greens for ages — they lose colour and flavour.
5 minStep 4: Taste for salt and serve in bowls over rice, with ½ tsp sakay or chilli paste on the side.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 110 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 13 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does vegetable romazava take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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