In brief
- Ravitoto: Malagasy stew of pounded cassava leaves and pork
- Origin: Madagascar, a dish widespread across the whole island
- Essential ingredients: pounded cassava leaves, pork, garlic, ginger, shallot
- A family dish, served with white rice, for everyday meals as well as special occasions
Origins and cultural history of ravitoto
Ravitoto, literally “pounded cassava leaves” in Malagasy, is one of the most widely eaten dishes in Madagascar. Prepared with pork, under the name ravitoto sy henakisoa, it brings the family together around a shared pot, for everyday meals as well as special occasions. Beef or smoked fish sometimes replace the pork.
Other Malagasy and neighbouring dishes are also made with pounded or slow-cooked leaves: Mozambican matapa, made with cassava leaves, coconut milk and peanut, and Malagasy romazava, a beef stew with other greens besides cassava leaf. Each keeps its own recipe.
What are the essential ingredients of ravitoto
The ingredient that gives the dish its name is the pounded cassava leaf, sold in France in ready-to-use cans in specialist African grocery stores, including NKOSI.
- Pounded cassava leaves, canned
- Pork, belly or shoulder
- Garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Shallot or onion
- Oil
Nutritional benefits of ravitoto
Canned pounded cassava leaves provide, per 100 g, 37 kcal, 2.5 g of protein and 3.7 g of fibre, according to the product label. Raw pork belly provides, according to the Ciqual table from Anses, 259 kcal, 16.9 g of protein and 21.4 g of fat per 100 g.
Frequently asked questions about ravitoto
Can pork be replaced with another meat?
Yes. Beef and smoked fish sometimes replace pork in ravitoto. The cooking time can then be adjusted: smoked fish needs less simmering than pork or beef.
What is the difference between ravitoto and romazava?
Ravitoto is made with pounded cassava leaves, generally with pork. Romazava, another Malagasy dish, simmers beef with other greens, such as brède mafane, and does not contain cassava leaves.
Where to find ravitoto ingredients in France?
NKOSI sells the canned pounded cassava leaves and the spices for ravitoto, and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
