Ever wondered how to make yam porridge (asaro)? This simple and delicious recipe includes red bell peppers, onion, punya yam, smoked prawns and more!
What is Yam Porridge?
Yam porridge also referred to as yam pottage or jokingly as Jollof yam is a dish from southwest Nigeria. As the name suggests, it is made with white yam. Essentially, white yam (aka Punya yam) is boiled with blended pepper, tomato and onion together with vegetable or palm oil.
Nigerian Yam Porridge
Yam porridge is consumed mostly in Southern Nigeria, particularly among the Yorubas who refer to it as asaro (pronounced a-sha-row). Considered an alternative to jollof rice at Nigerian parties and festivals, yam is also served as breakfast, lunch or dinner.
What is Yam?
Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is like a potato in that they are both tubers meaning that part of the stem grows underground to become a thicken edible mass. Yams are herbaceous plants. Most importantly in the health food guide, yam is unprocessed. Although rich in carbohydrates, yam is a vegetable. Yam is also pounded in a wooden mortar and pestle, hence the term “Pounded yam”. Pounded yam is a staple food among Northern Yorubas such as the Ijeṣas and Ekiti. Note that the Ijebus, on the other hand, use grated water yam in ikokore. Yam can also be fried (dundun) and served as snacks.
How to Make Yam Porridge (Asaro)
- Blend 1 scotch bonnet, 1 bell pepper, 1 onion and a can of plum tomatoes and set aside.
- Peel 1 punya yam and chop. Add to a bowl of water to prevent drying. and rinse the yam to remove dirt and particles.
- Add enough water to cover the yam in a pot or wok, add salt to taste and sugar (optional). Cover the pot and cook on a low/medium heat for about 20 minutes.
- Pour in the blended mixture, add tomato purée, salt to taste, 1 chicken stock cube, oil, 3 tsp of ground smoked prawns along with 1/2 a diced onion. Cook on a low heat for another 10 – 15 minutes (Note that you may have to cook longer if you are using scotch bonnet and dry pepper to reduce the hotness).
- Use a wooden spoon or a masher to mash some of the yam, stir and serve when done.
Alternative Ingredients
Cooking yam porridge is fun and there are different options. Depending on your personal taste, you need to decide whether to use vegetable oil or palm oil. Palm oil is the traditional ingredient used hundreds of years before vegetable oil was introduced into the region. You also have a choice of flavoring such as ground smoked prawns or thyme.
When cooked with vegetable oil, you may or may not add sugar. Note that sugar is usually not added when cooked with palm oil but hey there are no rules, it’s up to you! Instead of sugar, you can cook yam porridge with ripe plantain, this offers what I call a 3D taste. You can also add spinach 3 – 5 minutes before it is done.
What to Serve with Yam Porridge?
Although yam porridge can be served alone, it’s a big hit when served with fried stew (ata dindin) with either fish or meat. It can also be served with spinach (efo riro).
Tips: Slightly burnt portion at the bottom of the pot is quite a delight.
Related Posts
- Nigerian Jollof Rice Recipe
- Nigerian Puff Puff with Pepper
- Ikokore Water Yam Pottage From Sisi Jemimah
How to Make Yam Porridge
Equipment
- Medium-sized saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 white/punya yam
- 1 onion diced
- 1/3 cup oil
- 3 tsp of ground smoked prawns
- Salt to taste
- 1 chicken stock cube optional
- Sugar to taste optional
- A splash of palm oil or vegetable oil
- *Blend*
- 1 plum tomatoes
- 1/2 onion
- 1 scotch bonnet or tsp of dry pepper optional
- 1 bell pepper
- 2-3 tbsp tomato paste purée
Instructions
- Blend 1 scotch bonnet, 1 bell pepper, 1 onion and a can of plum tomatoes and set aside.
- Peel yam and chop yam. Add to a bowl of water to prevent drying. and rinse the yam to remove dirt and particles.
- Add enough water to cover the yam in a pot or wok, add salt to taste and sugar (optional). Cover the pot and cook on a low/medium heat for about 20 minutes.
- Pour in the blended mixture, add tomato purée, salt to taste, 1 chicken stock cube, oil, ground smoked prawns along with the diced onion. Cook on a low heat for another 10 – 15 minutes (Note that you may have to cook longer if you are using scotch bonnet and dry pepper to reduce the hotness).
- Use a wooden spoon or a masher to mash some of the yam, stir and serve when done.
Notes
Well done! Thanks for this
Just followed your recipe – cheers
You’re welcome!