Sierra Leone | Recipe

Cassava Leaf Stew

Sierra Leone's national dish — finely pounded cassava leaves simmered with palm oil, fish, and meat until thick and rich. A deeply savoury, earthy stew.

Country
Sierra Leone
Region
West Africa
Time
90 min
Serves
6
Level
medium
Recipe overview

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Cassava Leaf Stew is the soul of Sierra Leonean cooking. The laborious process of pounding the tough leaves until smooth is a communal activity, often done by women singing together. The dish is inseparable from Sierra Leonean identity.

What the dish tastes like

Sierra Leone's national dish — finely pounded cassava leaves simmered with palm oil, fish, and meat until thick and rich. A deeply savoury, earthy stew.

When to cook it

Best for Everyday meals and celebrations, with a medium cooking level and about 90 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

White rice

Servings: 6

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How to cook it

Step-by-step instructions

Back to Sierra Leone
1
Prepare the leaves
If using fresh leaves, pound or blend them until very fine. Boil in water for 20 minutes to soften and remove bitterness. Drain well.
Frozen pre-pounded cassava leaves save significant time.
Cook leaves 20:00
2
Cook the meat
Season meat with onions, salt, and pepper. Boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Reserve the stock.
Cook meat 20:00
3
Build the stew
Heat palm oil in a large pot. Add remaining onions and fry until soft. Add the drained cassava leaves, smoked fish, cooked meat, and ground peanuts.
4
Simmer
Add 2 cups of meat stock and scotch bonnets. Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until thick and the oil rises to the surface.
The stew is ready when the palm oil pools on top.
Simmer stew 30:00
5
Serve
Serve generous portions over fluffy white rice.

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