--- title: "Meatless Friday with CRS Rice Bowl: Vary Amin'Anana" description: This Lent, CatholicMom.com is partnering with CRS Rice Bowl in a special way, sharing the CRS Rice Bowl featured recipes on each Lenten Friday. Today, Erin McCole Cupp samples Vary Amin'Anana. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CRS-Vary-Amin-Anana-702x336.jpg ---                                           [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/03/18/meatless-friday-with-crs-rice-bowl-vary-aminanana#) [MEATLESS FRIDAY](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday) # Meatless Friday with CRS Rice Bowl: Vary Amin'Anana Mar 18, 2016 8:00:29 AM  |  by [Erin McCole Cupp](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/erin-mccole-cupp) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CRS-Vary-Amin-Anana-702x336.jpg)   *This Lent, CatholicMom.com is partnering with CRS Rice Bowl in a special way, sharing the [CRS Rice Bowl featured recipes](http://www.crsricebowl.org/recipe) on each Lenten Friday--and 5 CatholicMom.com writers have prepared these recipes and shared their experiences with you! These posts will also be included on the CRS Rice Bowl website. Why not try these simple recipes in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world? They're inexpensive and easy to prepare, and the money you've saved by making a simple meal can be placed in your family's [Rice Bowl](http://www.crsricebowl.org/) to help feed our brothers and sisters in need.* ** ## [Vary Amin'Anana, a recipe from Madagascar](http://www.crsricebowl.org/recipe/vary-aminanana-greens-with-rice) - 2 T fair trade olive oil - 1 small onion, diced - 1 medium tomato, diced - 1 clove garlic - 1 t fresh ginger, minced - 3 c packed collard greens or kale - 1 c rice - 2 c water - Salt and pepper to taste Heat oil in medium-sized pot. Add onion, tomato, garlic and ginger, and sauté until just tender. Add collard greens or kale, and stir 1 minute. Add rice, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on medium heat for 25 minutes or until water is absorbed. *Serves 4‒5*   [![Photo copyright 2016 Catholic Relief Services. Used by permission. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CRS-Vary-Amin-Anana-702x336.jpg?width=900&name=CRS-Vary-Amin-Anana-702x336.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CRS-Vary-Amin-Anana.jpg) Photo copyright 2016 Catholic Relief Services. Used by permission. All rights reserved.   ### Chef's Reflection: NOTE: I changed "cook on medium heat" to "low heat," because when I did it on medium, it scorched the pan. "Okay, kids. We're going to make this recipe from Madagascar. What do you guys know about Madagascar?" "It's the fourth poorest country in the world!" "Their primary export is vanilla beans." "They have lemurs!" My older two then taught me that Madagascar's poverty comes from their lack of wealth to export, and that most of the population survives on subsistence farming. The surprising thing about Vary Amin'anana is that it wasn't a surprise! We regularly have kale with garlic and onions. Adding the fresh ginger and letting the rice cook with the greens was a nice--not to mention--convenient change. I think we might have a new meal to add to our regular meatless Friday rotation! A couple of hints from our kitchen to yours before you cook this up: - I save time by keeping our ginger bulb frozen. Then instead of grating it, I shave it off with a very sharp knife. A knife is way easier to clean of thin, stubborn ginger fibers than any grater I've ever met. - I've found that the onions make me cry less when I put the pot on to heat (over our gas burner, admittedly) and then dice the onion on the counter nearest the pot. Enjoy your meal in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the land of lemurs and vanilla beans! --- *Copyright 2016 Erin McCole Cupp. Recipe and photo copyright 2016 Catholic Relief Services. All rights reserved. Used by permission.* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F03%2F18%2Fmeatless-friday-with-crs-rice-bowl-vary-aminanana%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F03%2F18%2Fmeatless-friday-with-crs-rice-bowl-vary-aminanana%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F03%2F18%2Fmeatless-friday-with-crs-rice-bowl-vary-aminanana%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%20with%20CRS%20Rice%20Bowl%3A%20Vary%20Amin%27Anana) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F03%2F18%2Fmeatless-friday-with-crs-rice-bowl-vary-aminanana%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F03%2F18%2Fmeatless-friday-with-crs-rice-bowl-vary-aminanana%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Erin McCole Cupp](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/ErinCupp.jpg) ### [Erin McCole Cupp](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/erin-mccole-cupp) Erin McCole Cupp, CTRC, is grateful to be recovering from the compulsive effects of developmental and betrayal trauma. She coaches, writes and speaks about mental health, family trauma, and addiction recovery. She is the author of several courses and books, including All Things New: Breaking the Cycle and Raising a Joyful Family (Our Sunday Visitor Books, 2021). ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Fridays with CRS Rice Bowl: Kawunga Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/03/04/meatless-fridays-crs-rice-bowl-kawunga) [ Meatless Fridays with CRS Rice Bowl: Rice and Lentil Mash Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/02/26/meatless-fridaycrs-rice-bowl) [ Meatless Fridays with CRS Rice Bowl: Cheese Empanadas with Beans Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/02/19/meatless-fridays-crs-rice-bowl-cheese-empanadas-beans) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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