Kitoza (Malagasy Marinated Dried Beef Strips)
In short: Thin beef strips marinated with garlic, ginger and lime, dried in a low oven, then grilled until browned and chewy. A Malagasy dry laoka for rice. It takes about 2 h 40 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 2 h 20 min
- Resting
- 4 h
- Total
- 2 h 40 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 210 kcal
Kitoza is seasoned strips of beef or pork, dried and then grilled or fried, and eaten as a dry laoka beside rice or rice porridge. Market stalls sell it hanging in long strips, and highland cooks often smoke it. This home version marinates thin strips with garlic, ginger and salt, dries them in a low oven, then browns them on a hot grill until they are fragrant and pleasantly chewy.
Instructions
- Freeze the beef for 45 minutes to firm it up, then slice it along the grain into strips about 1 cm (1/2 in) thick, 3 cm (1 1/4 in) wide and 12 cm (5 in) long.
- Mix the garlic, ginger, salt, pepper, lime juice and oil in a bowl. Add the beef and massage it in, then cover and marinate in the fridge for 4 hours.
- Heat the oven to 80°C (175°F). Lay the strips in a single layer on a wire rack set over a tray, leaving small gaps between them.
- Dry the strips in the oven for 2 hours, until they look matte and feel firm but still bend.
- Heat a grill or cast-iron pan until very hot. Cook the strips for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until browned in spots and cooked through.
- Serve hot with rice and a tomato relish or sakay.
Tips
- Pork strips can be treated the same way. Cut them along the grain and make sure no pink remains after the final grilling.
- For a smoky note, finish the strips over a charcoal grill instead of a pan. They are fully cooked by that point, so you only need color.
Questions and answers
Is kitoza the same as jerky?
The idea is similar, but kitoza is usually softer and is grilled or fried before eating with rice rather than carried as a dry snack.
How long does kitoza keep?
Once cooked, keep the strips in the fridge for up to 3 days and re-crisp them in a hot pan. Freeze the marinated, dried strips for up to 2 months.
What do you serve with kitoza?
Plain rice, a fresh tomato relish such as lasary voatabia, stewed greens and sakay for heat.
How long does it take to make Kitoza (Malagasy Marinated Dried Beef Strips)?
About 2 h 40 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 2 h 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kitoza (Malagasy Marinated Dried Beef Strips)?
About 210 kcal per serving, with 25 g of protein, 2 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 210 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 25 g |
| Carbohydrates | 2 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 750 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
