Yam Porridge: A Seasonal Delight for Students

 

Image Credit: Pinterest 

By Ige Inioluwa Margret

There are some meals that feel like a warm embrace, the kind of food that tells stories of home, family, and culture. Yam porridge, popularly called “Asaro” among the Yoruba, is one of those dishes that speaks home. It is more than just a meal; it is a seasonal feast. And right now, in this period of abundance, yam is at its peak. Markets are flooded with freshly harvested tubers, their earthy aroma filling the air and reminding us why yam holds such a special place in the Nigerian diet.

Yam porridge is a rich, comforting dish prepared by boiling yam slices and allowing them to soften into a starchy base, enriched with palm oil, vegetables, peppers, and spices. Sometimes vegetables like pumpkin leaves (Ugu) and scent leaves are added for freshness and nutrition. The beauty of yam porridge lies in its versatility. The following are the ingredients that carry enough flavour to make one's taste buds dance.

INGREDIENTS 

Yam

Palm oil 

Seasoning

Pepper

Onions

Crayfish

Pumpkin leaves (Ugu)

African basil (Efirin)

Dried fish (optional) 

Plantain (optional)

PREPARATION 

Peel and cut the Yam into medium-sized chunks. Rinse a couple of times until the water is no longer cloudy. Set aside blended pepper, tomato, and onions.

Put the yams inside a pot, and add the blended sauce, salt, bouillon powder, and water. Then, cover and let it cook for 10 minutes on medium to high heat.

Stir in the palm oil, sliced onions, and crayfish, cover, and leave to cook for an additional 10 minutes. Mash the yams with a potato masher or a wooden spoon. I love to mash some yams and keep some chunks. It gives more texture!

Add the fish (You can use whatever addition you prefer, like smoked fish or crab meat). Allow it to simmer for an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Put in the leafy greens like spinach, African basil, or ugwu) and enjoy while still hot!

Nutritionally, yam porridge is wholesome and filling. Yam provides complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber, palm oil contributes vitamin A, and when leafy greens are added, the dish becomes even richer in iron and other minerals. 

This season is the best time to try yam porridge if you haven’t already, or to revisit it with fresh creativity. Whether you prefer it plain and thick, or loaded with seafood and spice, one thing is certain, a bowl of yam porridge brings both satisfaction and nostalgia.