How to make Asaro a.k.a mashed yam porridge

Dobby

10 years ago

Yam porridge is a staple food in Nigeria but the version which is quite popular in the western part of Nigeria is known as Asaro (also known as Ebe (pronounced eh-beh))and this is due to the method of preparation. The preparation of Asaro is quite simple and needs few ingredients with little or no vegetables unlike the typical normal yam porridge. For the preparation of asaro, you’d need a mixture of blended peppers and regular yam. It’s a simple one pot meal which takes little or no time to prepare. It can be served with “Obe Ata Iru“, Hard boiled egg or steamed leafy Vegetables.

How to make Asaro
• Prep time: 20 mins
• Cook time: Over 1 hour

• Region: Western Nigeria

• Misc: Serve Hot

Ingredients:::

• 1 medium sized yam tuber

• 1 medium sized red onion – Chopped

• 6 chili pepper “Shombo”

• 3 red scotch bonnet “Ata Rodo”

• 4 cloves garlic

• 1 small stock fish (Or dry fish) – Optional

• 3 Seasoning cubes

• Salt to taste

• 2 cups Palm oil

• Scent leaves “Efinrin/nchuawun” or Ugu leaves – Chopped (optional)

Directions:::

Step 1: Cut the yam tuber into round slices, slice off the brown skin and place in a bowl. Add clean water and wash till all the dirt is removed and the yam is clean- Set aside

Step 2: Remove the garlic skin, Remove the heads from the Scotch bonnet pepper and chili pepper. Wash and place in a blender. Blend till you have a smooth puree.

Step 3: Pour the palm oil into an empty pot. Add the Blended puree into the palmoil in the pot and heat up for about 3 minutes. Add about 3 cups of water and cook on medium heat for about 10 mins.

Step 4: Reduce the burner to the lowest and gently add the yams(Be careful so it doesn’t splash).

Step 5: Top up with some more water, add the chopped onion, crushed seasoning, salt and cover. Leave to cook for about 25 minutes till the liquid in the pot reduces. By this time, the yam chunks in the pot would have gotten really soft.

Step 6: With the edge of the cooking spoon, mash the yams in the pot very well. You can leave a few un-mashed yam chunks if you like.

Step 7: if you intend using any leafy vegetable such as scent leaf/Ugu, now is the time to add it (Though the original recipe goes without it). Cover the pot and leave to cook for another 10 mins.

* Now you are done. Serve hot!