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Lasary voatabia

Malagasy tomato and spring onion relish for rice

Lasary voatabia is the fresh tomato relish served beside the rice at almost every Malagasy meal, from Antananarivo's highland homes to the coast. Tomatoes and spring onion are chopped very small, sharpened with lime or vinegar and a little sakay (chilli), and spooned onto the rice to wake up broths like romazava. It is juicier and finer than a salad. Chef's tip: chop the tomatoes very small, almost to a pulp at the edges; the juice is meant to soak into the rice.
Total time
10 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

Method

0/3 done
  1. Step 1: Put 4 ripe tomatoes with all their juice in a bowl with 4 spring onions.

  2. Step 2: Add 2 tbsp lime juice or white vinegar, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp sakay (Malagasy chilli paste) or chopped red chilli and 1 tsp vegetable oil and mix well. Common mistake: draining the tomatoes — keep every drop.

  3. Step 3: Leave for 10 minutes, then taste and adjust the salt and acid. Serve with rice and broths.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
25 kcal
Protein
1 g
Carbs
5 g
Fat
0 g
Fibre
1 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does lasary voatabia take?
About 10 minutes in total.
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 ripe tomatoes?
Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
What can I use instead of spring onions?
Chives, or a little finely sliced onion.

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