Madagascar’s most famous snack : Mofogasy doughnut

As a visitor to Madagascar you will certainly be interested in what the country has to offer in terms of food. You’re in luck as Madagascar happens to have very great food choices. The cuisines on the Island have been influenced by various cultures from the French to Asian not forgetting the indigenous Malagasy choices.

Despite this mix of cultures available in Madagascar,there is a clear winner when it comes to the popularity of meals – the general and most common meals have Rice (Vary) at the center of it and it won’t be strange to have rice at the centerof each of the 3 square meals in a day.

However visiting a new place like Madagascar means that there would be a thirst to explore and the fastest place that helps with enjoying vast experiences is no other place but – The Streets.

The Streets of Madagascar have very sumptuous delicacies that would suit nowhere else than the streets. Safe to say that even rice has influence in this part of town so no real escape eh… But the way it is used in this part of town is unique.

“Mofogasy” bathes the streets of Madagascar to tease your taste buds and though different parts of Madagascar have different methods of preparation but they certainly lead to the same sweet Malagasydonut that you should make a pointer to taste when you visit.

Mofogasy is made from sweetened rice flour poured into circular molds and cooked over charcoal fire. The coastal areas of Madagascar have a slightly different variation on Malagasy donut by adding coconut milk and also call it a different name – “Mokary”.

Mofogasy has a very simple recipe which you should try to get a pre-taste if you’ve never been in Madagascar and are preparing to come over or been away from Madagascar and looking to remember the scents and tastes that filled the streets early in the mornings or maybe you’ve tasted it during your last visit and need to have a feel again, do give it a try and you won’t be disappointed regardless of what group you belong.

Ingredients

• 400g of rice flour
• 400 g of wheat flour 
• 200 g of caster sugar 
• 1 can of concentrated milk 
• 4 whole eggs 
• 1 bag of coconut milk powder 
• 1/2 coconut shredded
• 1 can of coconut milk (250 ml) 
• 125 g of butter 
• 2 sachets of baker’s yeast 
• 3 glasses of water

You can add other flavors that you think would be preferable for you, you could decide to go the spicy (pepper, curry) route or the sweet route (milk, vanilla, more sugar).

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a pan. 
2. In a large special cooking bowl put rice flour and wheat flour then add 200 g of sugar, 1 can of concentrated milk, add 4 whole eggs then 1 packet of coconut milk powder, 1/2 glass of coconut grated, 1 can of 250 ml coconut milk then add 2 bags of the baker’s yeast dilute with 
   warm water.
3. Add 3 glasses of water after adding melted butter 125 g.
4. Let it rest for 2 hours
5. Spread oil in a frying pan with a brush then heat it up.

For the cooking you’ll need the following

6. A little sunflower oil 
7. 1 small skillet teffal or in a special mold Moukary vary. 
8. 1 small thick pot lid 
9. 1 ladle

Then you cook as follows:

10. Using a brush spread the oil on the pan and let it heat. 
11. Take 2 ladles of the dough and cover with the lid of a pot. 
12. Let it cook on low heat for about 12 minutes. 
13. Then turn and leave for 2minutes. 
14. The mofogasyroll is ready. You can eat at breakfast or as a snack

Mokary which is a slight variation is made thus:

• 1 sachet of rice flour  
• 200 g caster sugar 
• 2 tablespoons rice flour to make the rice cream 
• 1 bag of baker’s yeast 
• 4 liters of coconut milk 

First you prepare the rice cream:

• In a saucepan, place one half-bowl of water and boil. 
• In a bowl put, 2 tablespoons of rice flour and add a half bowl of water and turn well so that it is homogeneous. 
• Add in boiling water, turning well until thick. 

Then you prepare the rice cake:

 In a large bowl designed for cooking, put 1 sachet of rice flour. 

• Add the previously prepared rice cream. 
• Soak the baker’s yeast in a little water so that it melts and add it. 
• Add the coconut milk. 
• It is necessary to knead and mix the dough. 
• Leave to rest about 1 hour. Add sugar when you are going to cook the patties and do not forget it! For the cooking you’ll need the following
• A little sunflower oil 
• 1 small skillet teffal or in a special mold Moukary vary. 
• 1 small thick pot lid 
• 1 ladle

Then you cook as follows:

• Using a brush spread the oil on the pan and let it heat. 
• Take 2 ladles of the dough and cover with the lid of a pot. 
• Let it cook on low heat for about 12 minutes. 
• Then turn and leave for 2minutes. 
• The wafer is ready. You can eat as breakfast or as a snack

There are other Malagasy street meals that make for good tasting and you should try out apart from Mofogasy which include: Menakely (deep-fried doughnut),Mofobaolina (fried dough ball), also Mofogasy can be taken in a different way by salting first and the proceeding to fry in lard and consumed, named – Ramanonaka.

For more authentic recipes for Malagasy cuisines and snacks visit Recette de cuisine artisanaled’Ambanja (Madagascar) at their Facebook Page.

The streets of Madagascar certainly will give you a welcome and you hope you tried that recipe; you can mix it up with new ingredients that are unique to your part of the world.