We tell you here how to make porridge yam (Asaro)

Porridge yam is also known as Asaro (in the Yoruba language), yam soup or yam pottage. Yam porridge is eaten by different tribes in Nigeria. However, it is more common in the Yoruba speaking counterparts of Nigeria. It is also easy to make. Curious about how to make it?

Yam porridge is a delicious yam recipe, usually well-seasoned with pepper until it becomes soft and fluffy, with some yam chunks that get the Yoruba speaking region of Nigeria singing "asaro-elepo-rederede", meaning yam porridge in tender red palm oil. Up next we will tell you how to make porridge yam.

Which are the ingredients you will need to prepare the Yam Porridge

These is the list of ingredients you will need to make this recipe:

• Diced yam in chunks as many as desired based on the people per serving.
• Dry fish, dried prawns, ponmo, smoked fish or stockfish (Optional).
• Diced onion.
• Chopped or blended garlic (optional)
• A handful of chopped scent leaves, ugu or spinach leaves, pumpkin, parsley, scent leaf or green amaranth (optional)
• Red palm oil
• Salt to taste
• Seasoning to taste
• Scotch bonnet chilies (ata rodo), tatashe, and tomatoes
• Thyme and curry
• Seasoning powder (beef, chicken, goat meat)
• Habanero pepper or fresh ground yellow pepper.

If you love yam, it is a must-try recipe!

Learn how to prepare Asaro or Yam Porridge using Fried Palm oil

This direction is for 2-3 adults, which you can adjust, according to the number of people you want to cater for:

1. Peel and cut about 1kg of yam into chunks (like a triangle or square shape)
2. Slightly blend scotch bonnet chilies (ata Rodo), tatashe, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger as preferred.
3. If you are going to use fresh fish, boil fish for about 5 minutes with seasoning and salt (save the fish water for the porridge mix if you are not using beef or chicken water).
4. Next on, how to make porridge yam. Using red palm oil, place a frying pan on medium heat, add the red palm oil and heat for about 1 minute 30 seconds (depending on how you can take the smoke). Add chopped onions and fry till the onions are fried, not burnt (LOL!!!).
5. Place a pot on medium heat; add the yam chunks, the blended pepper mixture, and enough water to cover it (keep it at the same level). Add fish or meat water to the yam if available (remember, both the normal water and the fish water should be at the same level as the chunks of yams).
6. Add habanero pepper or fresh ground yellow pepper (if you did not use freshly blended pepper).
7. Add salt, seasoning maggi, or seasoning powder (either of beef, chicken, or goat meat) to your taste and check for salt.
8. When the yam is almost soft, add the heated palm oil and sliced onions to the yam and continue cooking till the yam is tender.
9. Add beef or chicken water or ordinary water in between cooking if need be but bear in mind that you need it to be thick.
10. Still on how to make porridge Yam matter, add dried prawns, ponmo, smoked fish or stockfish and stir together gently to avoid breaking yam more and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Also, add thyme and curry.
11. When the yam is soft, use a wooden ladle spoon to break the yam into pieces (Leave some yam chunks if you desire).
12. Finally, add a handful of chopped scent leaves, ugu or spinach leaves, pumpkin, parsley or green amaranth. Reduce the heat and cook for another 2 minutes.
13. Your meal is ready to be served as desired (you can add beef or egg).

Learn how to prepare this meal using vegetable oil

Do you wish to eat porridge yam, but you are allergic to palm oil, or you do not like red palm oil? Well, there is a piece of good news for you. You can substitute red palm oil for vegetable oil in the process above. (Note that the taste would be different but similar. Be advised that you use little vegetable oil).

Learn how to prepare this meal using red palm oil

Sometimes we feel so lazy to go through all the processes above. We got you covered. Below is an easy method on how to make porridge yam without frying the oil.

1. Peel and cut about 1kg of yam into chunks (like a medium-size triangle or square shape).
2. Slightly blend scotch bonnet chilies (ata rodo), tatashe, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger as preferred.
3. Put the chunks of yams in a cooking pot with medium heat and water levelling it.
4. Add the blended pepper or grounded pepper, red palm oil, thyme, curry, and onions to the mixture.
5. Add salt, seasoning maggi, or seasoning powder (beef, chicken, goat meat) to your taste and remember to check for salt.
6. Once the yam is almost tender, add flaked dry fish, dried prawns, ponmo, smoked fish or stockfish to it.
7. Add water or stock water at intervals if need be.
8. When the yam is tender, use a wooden spatula or turning stick to break the yam into pieces, and leave some yam chunks if desired.
9. Finally, add a handful of chopped scent leaves, ugu or spinach leaves, pumpkin, parsley, or green amaranth. Reduce the heat and cook for another 2 minutes.
10. Food is ready to be served as desired.

There are a few things to note when you are preparing this meal

If you want to know how to make porridge yam and have no problems during the process you will have to consider the next 3 points.

1. It is best to use the freshest Palm Oil you can get because stale palm oil will ruin the taste of the Pottage.
2. It is best to use as little seasoning as possible because the yam itself is sweet (thus, the excessive seasoning will overshadow the sweet taste of the pottage).
3. Add a little more water if necessary but do not overdo it.