Vary Amin'anana (Malagasy Rice with Greens and Beef)

Name: Vary Amin'anana (Malagasy Rice with Greens and Beef)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Madagascar
Ingredients: 2 cups rice, rinsed; 1 lb beef, thinly sliced or diced; 4 cups chopped greens (spinach or mustard greens); 1 onion, chopped; 2 tbsp oil; 1 tbsp grated ginger; 4 cups water or stock; Salt to taste

6 servings15 min prep40 min cookEasy Madagascar

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Vary Amin'anana (Malagasy Rice with Greens and Beef)

Story updated September 17, 2026

Vary amin'anana, rice cooked with greens and often beef or pork, is a comforting, porridge-like Malagasy staple, its name literally meaning "rice with greens." Rice has been central to Madagascar's cuisine and economy since Austronesian settlers brought wet-rice cultivation to the island over a thousand years ago, making dishes like this an everyday touchstone.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

2 cups rice, rinsed
1 lb beef, thinly sliced or diced
4 cups chopped greens (spinach or mustard greens)
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp grated ginger
4 cups water or stock
Salt to taste

Instructions

1Heat oil in a pot and brown the beef with onion and ginger until fragrant.
2Add the rinsed rice and stir to coat in the fat.
3Pour in water or stock and bring to a boil.
4Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 15 minutes.
5Stir in the chopped greens and continue simmering 10-15 minutes until the rice is tender and the mixture is thick and porridge-like.
6Season with salt and serve hot.

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