Asaro (Yam porridge)

Asaro or yam porridge is a delicious yam dish cooked in well-seasoned pepper mix. It is very quick and easy to make

Asaro (Yam porridge)

I got hubby cooking one of his speciality meal recently and I must give it to him, he doesn’t mess about when it comes to cooking Asaro (yam porridge). To be honest, I hardly cook Asaro because why bother when you have a man-chef. Lol. We both have different ways of cooking Asaro (yam porridge) and while he was cooking this recently, my camera-ready self, took pictures as he cooked it. Here is Bae’s version of Asaro (yam porridge).

This yam porridge portion is made for 2-3 adults and it can be adjusted according to the numbers of people you are catering for. Asaro is well loved by all and it is easy to make. I timed this cooking and it took approximately 45 minutes.

The bokoto (cowfoot) and dodo (plantain) stir fry was cooked with my homemade my Nigerian style harissa paste. It was a passing thought at the last minute and it was well worth it.

Ingredients

½ tuber of yam

1 red bell pepper (Tatashe)

1-2 scotch bonnet chillies (Ata Rodo)

1 onion, chopped

2-4Csp palm oil (use according to preference, bae can’t deal with too oily porridge)

Seasoning

Salt

1 medium size mackerel fish, cleaned

Beef stock (optional)

2 handfuls spinach or any green vegetable

prep!

peel and cut yam into chunks

Roughly blend red bell pepper, scotch bonnet chill and onions together on a pulse and set aside

Boil fish for about 5 minutes with seasoning, salt. Save fish broth for the porridge if you are not using beef stock

Place a small pan on medium heat, add palm oil and heat for about 2 minutes. Add chopped onions and fry till onions are translucent. Take it off the heat and set aside. This is to be added to the yam at the tail end of the cooking.

De-bone fish, flake and set aside

How to make yam porridge

Place a pan on medium heat; add yam chunks, blended pepper mixture and a bit of water to cover it, add salt and bring to boil till yam is almost tender. Reduce the heat if you have to avoid the yam burning

Add stock or water to yam in between cooking if need be

Once yam is almost tender add already heated palm oil and chopped onions to the yam and continue to cook till yam is tender

Add seasoning (maggi/knorr) to your taste and check for salt

Using a wooden ladle, break yam into pieces but not to puree, leave some yam chunks if you desire

Add stock or water to yam in between cooking if need be (only do this to achieve desired thickness)

Add flaked fish and stir together gently to avoid breaking the fish and yam more, cook for another 2-3 minutes

Finnaly, add chopped spinach, fold into porridge and cook for another 3 minutes.

Serve with sides of choice.

I would like to take this opportunity again to say a massive thank you to everyone that has visited my blog, liked it and also took time out to leave constructive comments both on the blog and facebook. You are all amazing. Without you all out there, there will not be my active kitchen. Thank you! Dalu! Nagode! Don’t forget to tell your friends and families about the new girl on the block.

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enjoy. x