General Information
Malanga root is the rhizome, or stem, of a plant known for both its ornamental value and its edible ‘cormel’. Xanthosoma sagittifolium is popular as an ornamental plant, and is more commonly known in the garden world as “elephant ear.” At the base of the Malanga plant is the corm, which is similar to a bulb or tuber and is the underground stem of the plant. From this central corm, smaller cormels grow in clusters. The stems and leaves of the Malanga plant can grow up to five feet in height with well-recognized, large, arrowhead-shaped (sagittate) leaves, which led to another alias for the tuber: “Arrowhead root.” Malanga’s leaves are edible when young, and are used like spinach. The tuber looks similar to a yam with an earthy brown skin and a conical shape. The size can range anywhere from one half to two pounds. Malanga root is often covered in patchy areas of brown shag over its variegated skin. The thin skin is often patchy as well, revealing the beige, yellow or reddish flesh (depending on the variety) beneath. The flesh is firm and crisp like a potato’s. Malanga’s flavor is often likened to that of a nut, versus that of a potato or yam, once prepared. The taste is certainly unlike that of most tubers or roots, and lends well to Malanga in flour form.
History
Malanga is native to the tropical central and northern parts of South America, where it is still quite popular. It was first domesticated in Central America, where it was discovered by Spanish explorers and brought with them to parts of the Antilles – the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba, and eventually to West and Central Africa in the mid-1800s. Malanga, or Cocoyam, is a staple root vegetable in Africa, Oceana and Asian tropical regions. Once species, Xanthosoma violaceum with a yellow flesh, is grown in the Philippines. The high caloric content and nutritional value made Malanga an important subsistence crop in areas of drought or famine. The Malanga or “elephant plant” can grow in both marshy and flooded areas, as well as in upland areas where rain maintains its growth. The growing environment is dependent upon the species, but it is a hardy plant overall. Commercial production is generally concentrated in Central America and the Antilles. Malanga is available in most specialty food markets, or in farmers markets in tropical and sub-tropical areas.
