West Africa · Soup
Cassava Leaf Soup
Tender ground cassava leaves slow-braised with beef short ribs, smoked catfish, red palm oil, and silky peanut butter.
The story
Embraced by the Kru, Kpelle, and Mandingo peoples alike, Cassava Leaf Soup is Liberia's most iconic national dish, prepared for weekly family gatherings and wedding banquets. In traditional Liberian technique, the greens are pounded fine and braised vigorously for over an hour to dismantle the bitter glycosides and break down cellular fibrous walls. The secret textural bridge of this stew is the addition of smooth roasted peanut butter, which softens the sharpness of the greens and creates an emulsion with the unrefined palm oil.
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