Have you ever heard about “Kobaravina”? Today we want to make you aware of this famous and very delicious dessert in Madagascar. It is a type of cake, a dough that is enveloped in a banana leaf and is served hot. For international visitors and tourists, do not forget to taste that delicious dessert. Maybe you are wondering where to buy a koba in the Big Island. The good news is, wherever you will go, you will find a street vendor carrying a basket of koba on their head. They are walking around from the main road until the smallest alleys while reciting “Koba ô! Koba vao mafana ô!” which means Koba (dough), “these are hot doughs”. They are just waiting for you to call them. Here is the funny fact when you want to buy a koba. You cannot guess the seller’s name; you just call them by saying “Koba!” and they will come to you with a smile. Everybody loves it! A koba is a great option for a snack after school for your children, or for a coffee break for adults at the office.

Today we give you a short recipe for you to make your own “kobaravina”.

Ingredients :

- 5 ripe bananas

-½ cup of rice flour

- ½ cup of brown sugar

- ½ cup of chopped peanuts

- Banana leaves

- Raffia (it is a sort of string)

- Honey

Instructions :

Before starting, make to wash your hands in order to keep the cleanness of your preparation. Let us start now.

1- Mash the bananas in a bowl

2- Mix it with the rice flour and the brown sugar

3- Soften the banana leaves by boiling it in a hot water for a few minutes. Drain and pat it dry with a paper towel.

4- Place 3 table spoons of the batter in the center of a banana leaf.

5- Sprinkle it with the chopped peanuts.

6- Pour some honey on it.

7- Fold the banana leaf along the length of a rectangle and tie it with a raffia.

8- Steam for 20-30 minutes.

You can also use a pot and put the batter inside it and cover with a plastic bag in order to keep the steam and let the koba cook faster.

9- Serve it hot and enjoy the taste of this wonder.

A koba would be perfect with a cup of tea, coffee, chocolate, or milk! Do not forget to share and enjoy it with your friends and relatives.