For The Love Of Food: How To Make Finger-Licking Yam Pottage (Asaro)

When it comes local food, yam pottage is one of my personal favorites. What's not to like? It's easy, fast and delicious. Plus, you don't need so many ingredients to make yourself a very enjoyable meal. It's a wonderful mix of yam, pepper, palm oil, assorted sources of protein, and vegetables, most times, I like to throw in sweet potatoes or plantain, just for some extra sweetness. This is how I make my asaro.

What I use:

Medium sized yam

1/2 tubers of sweet potatoes/plantain

chicken stock

palm oil

crayfish

thinly sliced ugwu/scent leaves or both

Blended mix of ata rodo and onions with a little bit of fresh tomatoes

How To:

1. Get the yams ready by removing the peels and cutting them into medium sized cubes/pieces. Do the same to the sweet potatoes/plantain. The rule of thumb is to have the yams and the potatoes/plantain in a 2:1 ratio. Rinse the tubers and set aside

2. Heat up a clean pot and pour in the palmoil. Allow it heat up and then add some chopped onions. Saute the onions and be sure that you don't let them burn. Add in your pepper blend now, and the chicken stock. Let it boil for some time.

3. Add in salt and seasoning to taste and then add in some more water. Just enough to cook the yam.

4. Pour the yam cubes in. Don't add the potatoes/plantain yet. They cook in less time

5. Allow it to come to a rolling boil and then add the potatoes/plantain. Also add in the crayfish, some more diced onions and fish if you like and let it cook.

6. After a few minutes, mash the yams gently with the flat side of a spoon. Be sure to turn down the heat to avoid splashing. Now add the leaves, cover up the pot and allow to simmer for about 2 minutes.

7. Give the whole thing a final stir and take it off the heat. It's ready to eat!

Be sure to serve and enjoy it hot! 

The redder this dish looks, the more attractive. You can control how red you want your's to look by the quantity of palm oil you use. Just be sure not to over do it. Also, if you are unsure of how much salt and seasoning you added, check for taste before it gets done and adjust if necessary. It's a really simple meal to cook. You can have it ready in about 20 minutes! I usually like it with boiled eggs, you can have it with as much meat and fish as you would like too.

Cover image via Contemporarynigeriancuisine.com