Romazava

Romazava is the national dish of Madagascar, and the name describes it exactly: ro means broth or soup in Malagasy, mazava means clear. It is meat simmered with leafy greens in a clear broth, served over rice, and it is one of the seven royal dishes known collectively as tatao. It was once food for the Malagasy sovereign specifically. That association with royalty is part of why it holds the position it does, and it is now eaten by everyone rather than reserved for anyone. Three meats together, beef, pork and chicken, is characteristic of the fuller version, though households vary it. The greens are what make it Malagasy and they are the hardest part to reproduce elsewhere. Anamamy, paracress and mustard greens are what is used on the island; paracress in particular produces a tingling, numbing sensation on the tongue that is central to the authentic dish and has no European equivalent. Spinach and rocket are the usual substitutes and give a good soup that is missing that specific quality. Zebu, the humped cattle of Madagascar, is the traditional beef. It is served with sakay, the Malagasy chilli condiment, and small eggplants, ginger and tomato are common additions.