1
Brown pork
Heat oil in a heavy pot and brown pork until the fat begins to render.
Brown pork
10:00
Madagascar | Stew
Ravitoto
Malagasy pounded cassava leaves braised slowly with pork, garlic, ginger, and coconut milk until deep and earthy.
Country
Madagascar
Region
East Africa
Time
160 min
Serves
4
Level
medium
Recipe overview
What to know before you cook
Ravitoto rewards patience. Cook the cassava leaves until their rough edge softens and the pork becomes part of the sauce.
What the dish tastes like
Malagasy pounded cassava leaves braised slowly with pork, garlic, ginger, and coconut milk until deep and earthy.
When to cook it
Best for everyday meals, with a medium cooking level and about 160 minutes total.
What to serve alongside it
Steamed rice and tomato rougail
Regional lane
Madagascar national table. A verified Madagascar dish in the AfroKitchen archive.
Chef watch-outs
- Stopping the base before the pepper, onion, or spice edge has mellowed.
- Thinning the pot before the body of the soup or stew has developed.
- Rushing the base before the raw edge has cooked out.
How you know it is ready
- The sauce should coat the spoon and taste rounded, not watery or raw.
- The aroma should smell rounded rather than raw or sharp.
- Oil, sauce, broth, or steam should look settled and deliberate.
Recipe photos
See the dish before you cook
Each recipe supports one main image and up to four extra prep, serving, or step photos when they are available.
Chef board
Build the table around Ravitoto
Steamed rice and tomato rougail
Best route from here
Madagascar national table
Collections to keep cooking
How to cook it
Step-by-step method
Keep the rhythm calm, watch the texture, and adjust seasoning at the end.
6 steps
160 min total
medium
2
Cook aromatics
Add onion, garlic, and ginger. Cook until soft, then add tomatoes if using.
Cook aromatics
08:00
3
Add cassava leaves
Stir in pounded cassava leaves and water. Mix well with the pork and aromatics.
4
Braise slowly
Cover and simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until the leaves are very tender and the pork is soft.
Braise ravitoto
105:00
5
Finish coconut
Stir in coconut milk and simmer uncovered until the sauce thickens.
Finish sauce
15:00
6
Serve
Adjust salt and serve hot over white rice with tomato rougail.
Every household has small variations. Start here, then adjust seasoning, heat, and serving sides to your kitchen.