Crispy fried yam with pepper sauce (dundun) is a delicious savory dish that can be served as a starter or side. With a few simple ingredients you’ll be serving this delicious dish in no time!
This dish was easy to make and even easier to eat! This is a fun recipe that can bring the whole family together to make something simple. Fried yam with pepper sauce can be the perfect snack or a side addition to a meaty or fishy main course. The options are endless!
How to Make Fried Yam
There are a few different ways that you can enjoy traditional Nigerian Dundun. The two most popular methods of preparing a crispy side like this are by frying the yam. Alternatively, you can bake yam in the oven if you want a healthier alternative. However, this is not the traditional way to prepare this dish. Let’s look at what some of the differences are between the three methods:
Method 1:
Peel wash and chop the yam. Then, soak yam pieces in water for 5 minutes. Heat oil in a saucepan or a deep fryer and fry the yam pieces for a few minutes. Then, add 3-7 tbsp of salted water to the saucepan and cook until golden yellow (see photo). The amount of water you add will depend on how much yam fries you are frying. Adding water to the oil ensures that the yam fries cook on the inside and not just the outside.
This is the quickest method. However, it can be difficult to know when the yam is cooked enough on the inside. To test whether the yam fries are cooked, remove one from the oil and poke a fork into it. If it slides through easily then it is done.
Method 2:
Peel, wash and chop the yam. Then, add the yam pieces to a saucepan and pour in enough water to cover the yam. Add salt to taste and cook for 7-10 minutes. Once the yam has been cooked drain out the water and deep fry the yam for 5- 7 minutes or until the yam is golden yellow.
This method takes a bit longer than the previous method because you must parboil the yam before frying. However, parboiling the yam ensures that the yam is soft on the inside, so you don’t have to worry about the yam being under-cooked.
Method 3:
Typically, baked goods have fewer calories than if you were to fry them. Preheat oven at 230°C /446°F/Gas 8. Cover an oven tray with foil, lightly grease it with oil and set aside. Peel, wash and chop the yam. Then, add the yam pieces to a saucepan and pour in enough water to cover the yam. Add the yam pieces to a saucepan and pour in enough water to cover the yam. Add salt to taste and cook for 7-10 minutes. Once the yam is partly cooked drain out the water and add the pieces to the lightly greased tray (make sure they are not touching). Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden turning from time to time.
In the end, it’s up to you whether you want to fry or baked your yam. For our recipe below, we have made it easy for you to create the dish you want using Method 2.
How to Make Fried Yam with Pepper Sauce
To make fried yam with pepper sauce you will need 1 punya yam, onions, vegetable oil, palm oil, 1 can of plum tomatoes, red bell peppers, scotch bonnet, dried crayfish, ginger, Knorr chicken seasoning, thyme, salt to taste and pepper to taste. This recipe serves 5-6 people.
How to Make Fried Yam
1. Chop and peel one punya yam. Wash it thoroughly and remove all the dirt.
2. Then, add the yam pieces to a saucepan and pour in enough water to cover the yam. Add a pinch of salt and cook for 7-10 minutes.
3. Once the yam has been cooked drain out the water and deep fry the yam for 5- 7 minutes or until the yam is golden yellow.
4. Place yam fries on a paper towel to soak excess oil.
How to Make Pepper Sauce
This delicious spicy pepper sauce is the perfect dip to accompany fried yam (dundun).
1. Add 4-5 fresh tomatoes (or 1 can of plum tomatoes), 1 onion, 2 scotch bonnets, 2 red bell peppers and ½ tbsp of fresh ginger to a blender and pulse for 2-3 times. The consistency should not be smooth.
2. Pour 4-6 tbsp of palm oil into a saucepan. Once the oil is hot, pour in the blended mixture and cook for 7-10 minutes on a medium heat. Season with 1 Knorr chicken seasoning cube, salt to taste, 1-2 tsp of thyme, 1-2 tbsp of dried ground cray fish and stir. Option to add 1/2 of a chopped onion, 1/2 of a chopped tomato and 1/2 of a chopped red bell pepper. Cook the pepper sauce on a low heat for 20-25 minutes and stir from time to time. Once it is ready serve along side dundun and plantain!
Note:
- Remove the stem from the red bell pepper and scotch bonnets before blending.
- Chop onions and red bell peppers before pulsing.
How to Fry Plantain
You can also add sweet, delicious plantains to this dish and dip it into the spicy pepper sauce. You will need 3-4 plantains.
1. Start by peeling the plantain and removing the skin.
2. Then, chop the plantain into the shape of a fry.
3. Deep fry plantains until golden brown on each side.
4. Place plantain on paper towel to soak excess oil. Then, serve with dundun and pepper sauce.
Alternatives
You can lower the heat of the pepper sauce by adding fewer scotch bonnets and vice versa.
Palm oil is traditionally used to make the pepper sauce. However, you can use vegetable if you do not have palm oil to hand.
Oniyeri
You can turn this dun dun plate into a specialty item known as dun dun oniyeri by coating the yam strips in an egg wash before frying them. This will give them a fluffier texture, making them seem more like fried potato wedges that you can dip into a sauce.
The yam will provide that perfect combination of sweetness and starchiness that make it a flexible side whether you are enjoying a protein-filled meal or a light salad.
Try out this simple recipe and let us know how you did!
What can I serve with fried yam with pepper sauce (dundun)?
Dundun can be served as a side with fish, gizzard or meat.
How to Store Fried Yam with Pepper Sauce (dundun)
Fried yam is best eaten fresh. However, it can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 1-2 days.
More Tasty Nigerian Recipes
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Fried Yam with Pepper Sauce (Dundun)
Ingredients
- 1 punya yam
- 4-5 fresh tomatoes (or 1 can of plum tomatoes)
- 2 onions
- 1/2 tbsp fresh ginger (optional)
- 2 scotch bonnet
- 3 red bell peppers
- 1 Knorr chicken seasoning cube
- Salt to taste
- 1-2 tsp of thyme
- 1-2 tbsp of dried ground cray fish
- 3 plantains
- Palm oil (to cook pepper sauce)
- Vegetable oil (to fry yam and plantain)
Instructions
How to Make Fried Yam
- Chop and peel one punya yam. Wash it thoroughly and remove all the dirt.
- Then, add the yam pieces to a saucepan and pour in enough water to cover the yam. Add a pinch of salt and cook for 7-10 minutes.
- Once the yam has been cooked drain out the water and deep fry the yam in vegetable oil for 5- 7 minutes or until the yam is golden yellow.
- Place yam fries on a paper towel to soak excess oil.
How to Make Pepper Sauce
- Add 4-5 fresh tomatoes (or 1 can of plum tomatoes), 1 onion, 2 scotch bonnets, 2 red bell peppers and ½ tbsp of fresh ginger (optional) to a blender and pulse for 2-3 times. The consistency should not be smooth.
- Pour 4-6 tbsp of palm oil into a saucepan. Once the oil is hot, pour in the blended mixture and cook for 7-10 minutes on a medium heat. Season with 1 Knorr chicken seasoning cube, salt to taste, 1-2 tsp of thyme, 1-2 tbsp of dried ground cray fish and stir. Option to add 1/2 of a chopped onion, 1/2 of a chopped tomato and 1/2 of a chopped red bell pepper. Cook the pepper sauce on a low heat for 20-25 minutes and stir from time to time. Once it is ready serve along side dundun and plantain!
How to Fry Plantain
- Start by peeling the plantain and removing the skin.
- Then, chop the plantain into the shape of a fry.
- Deep fry plantains until golden brown on each side.
- Place plantain on paper towel to soak excess oil. Then, serve with dundun and pepper sauce. Enjoy 🙂
Notes
- Remove the stem from the red bell pepper and scotch bonnets before blending.
- Chop onions and red bell peppers before pulsing.
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Thanks a bunch, this very straight forward for me. We (with my friends) enjoyed preparing this dish yesterday and the pepper sauce – quite a delight
Hi Larissa, I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks! Best, Jen 🙂
This recipe is how wonderful
Glad you enjoyed it!