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July 14, 2016 Yam Recipes

Yam Balls -Stuffed Yam Balls

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Yam ball is another homemade and street snacks loved by Nigerians, it is also very popular in Ghana and other parts of Africa too. It is delicious and makes perfect snacks for any time of the day. Fluffy mashed yam moulded into balls with other deliciousness and covered in breadcrumbs before deep-fried until golden and crunchy on the outside.

Let me show you how to make the best yam balls recipe everyone would love.

Yam ball recipe

My mum taught me how to make this simple but delicious  yam balls. Any time we have cooked yam leftovers, you can be assured that she’s going to make yam balls. I have made today’s recipe as my mum would make hers. She doesn’t stuff her yam balls and she has only ever used canned sardines. She would mix the flaked fish with the well seasoned mashed yam and form into balls.

Yam ball is very easy to make and very versatile too. It can be made vegetarian, you can add all sort of goodies to it to make it to your personal preference. One of the ingredients which is important in achieving a crunchy yam ball is breadcrumbs. In the absence of breadcrumbs, you can use flour but I always use breadcrumbs for the golden and crunchy effect.

Yam balls can be eaten as snacks, or main meal depending on the amount you eat at a time. You can also serve it as a starter when hosting a dinner party. It is suitable for children’s lunch packs and it can be healthy when eaten in moderation.

Yam ball recipe

What are you still waiting for? Let’s get cooking

Ingredients

a small tuber of yam (puna African yam)

Sardine

Salt

Hot sauce or chopped scotch bonnet chillies

Spring onions, chopped (optional)

Chilli flakes; optional

Ground garlic, (optional)

Seasoning

Dried or fresh parsley

2 eggs

Breadcrumbs

Butter

Vegetable oil for frying

stuffed yam ball recipe

How to make yam balls

Peel the yam and cut into small chunks, rinse till clean, add to a pan, add enough water to cover it. Add salt to taste and bring to boil till soft.

While you are waiting on the yam to boil,

Separate the egg yolk from white (put in a separate bowl)

Drain the oil from the sardine if using sardines in sunflower

Check on the yam, once it is done, drain the water, add 3 tablespoons of butter and mash till smooth. (I don’t recommend using blender or food processor for this part as it makes the yam stretchy and that is not what you want)

how to make yam ball.jpg

Add the parsley, any other dry ingredients you will be using to the mashed yam, follow by the sardine and mix together till well combined (you can use your hand to mix if you want) check for salt and seasoning and adjust accordingly

Add the yolks and mix to combine

Proceed to add finely chopped mixed peppers or homemade hot sauce to the mashed yam and mix again to combine.

Whisk the reserved egg white till well combined.

At this point, you can choose to put the oil on the stove or wait till you are done moulding the yam balls.

stuffed yam ball.jpg

Mould the mashed yam to small balls, dip into the whisked egg white and then into the bread crumbs. Place on a clean plate, repeat this process till you have exhausted the mashed yam

coated with breadcrumbs

Place a shallow pan on high heat if you haven’t done so before. Add vegetable oil and heat till hot. Test the oil to be sure it’s hot enough. Add a tiny drop of the mashed yam or egg white and if it floats to the top then the oil is ready to use.

Drop the yam balls into the hot oil carefully, do not overcrowd the oil and fry till golden brown. Place on a kitchen towel to drain oil.

frying

Repeat process for all the yam balls. Serve immediately or allow to cool. You can have it with salad, hot sauce or just on its own.

I ran out of breadcrumbs and I was too lazy to make another batch, so I used flour to coat the remaining yam balls. I think I prefer the one with breadcrumbs tho

yam balls 5

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! Leave a comment below, it makes me a happy bunny and don’t forget to take a pic of your food. Tag @myactivekitchen when you do. See you on my next post. x

sauce on dumplings
yam balls.jpg
nigerian yam balls served over salad on a plate.
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Yam balls Recipe

Yam ball is another homemade and street snacks loved by Nigerians, it is also very popular in Ghana and other parts of Africa too. It is delicious and makes perfect snacks for any time of the day. Fluffy mashed yam moulded into balls with other deliciousness and covered in breadcrumbs before deep-fried until golden and crunchy on the outside.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time35 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: African, Nigerian
Keyword: african yam recipes, how to make yam balls, yam balls, yam balls recipe
Servings: 12 yam balls
Author: Ajoke

Ingredients

  • A small tuber of puna yam about 1kg African yam
  • 1 caned Sardine 90g drained
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoon hot sauce or use according to preference
  • a few spring onions (about 3 tablespoons) chopped (optional)
  • Pinch of chilli flakes optional
  • 1 teaspoon ground garlic optional
  • 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
  • 1 teaspoon Dried or fresh parsley
  • 2 medium eggs
  • 2 cups dried breadcrumbs or more as needed
  • 3 tablespoons butter softened
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

  • Peel the yam and cut into small chunks, rinse till clean, add to a pan, add enough water to cover it. Add salt to taste and bring to boil until soft and tender
  • While you are waiting on the yam to boil, prep the other ingredients
  • Separate the egg yolk from white (put in a separate bowl). Drain the oil from the sardine if using sardines in sunflower
  • Check on the yam, once it is done, drain the water, add butter and mash till smooth. (I don’t recommend using blender or food processor for this part as it makes the yam stretchy and that is not what you want)
  • Add the parsley, chopped spring onions, hot sauce and any other dry ingredients you will be using to the mashed yam, followed by the sardine and mix together till well combined (you can use your hand to mix if you want) check for salt and seasoning and adjust accordingly
  • Lastly, add the yolks to the mashed yam and mix to combine. Whisk the reserved egg white till well combined.
  • Place a shallow pan on medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and heat until hot. Test the oil to be sure it’s hot enough. Add a tiny drop of the mashed yam or egg white and if it floats to the top then the oil is ready to use.
  • Mould the mashed yam to small balls, dip into the whisked egg white and then into the bread crumbs. Place on a clean plate, repeat this process till you have exhausted the mashed yam
  • Drop the yam balls into the hot oil carefully, do not overcrowd the oil and fry until golden brown. Place on a kitchen towel to drain oil.
  • Repeat process for all the yam balls. Serve immediately or allow to cool. You can have it with salad, hot sauce or just on its own.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE RATE IT AND LEAVE ME A COMMENT. USE #MYACTIVEKITCHEN OR TAG @MYACTIVEKITCHEN ON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN SEE YOUR PHOTOS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS. THANK YOU!

 

Related

Categories: Yam Recipes

Previous Post: « Puff-Buns
Next Post: Breadcrumbs- how to make Breadcrumbs »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rachel Tso says

    July 20, 2020 at 4:00 pm

    Hi
    I’ve made these for tonight’s tea and have far too many. Can they be frozen pre freezing? Thanks

     
    Reply
    • Ajoke says

      July 20, 2020 at 3:38 pm

      Hello Rachel, I have never frozen it before but I don’t see why they can’t. Roll them to shape, egg wash and cover with breadcrumbs. Flash freeze them and fry them from frozen when you need them. Kindly let me know how it goes.

       
      Reply
    • Rachel Tso says

      July 20, 2020 at 5:24 pm

      Thank you and yes I will do.

       
      Reply
  2. Temitope jide says

    September 8, 2018 at 11:55 pm

    5 stars
    This is a really smart idea. Don’t know how I have lived my life not knowing about this 🙆🏾

     
    Reply
    • Ajoke says

      September 19, 2018 at 5:00 pm

      I know right, do give it a go and let me know how it turns out

       
      Reply
  3. Dieko says

    November 18, 2016 at 11:21 pm

    I tried making this for my girlfriend last night. It was a bit messy but we laughed over it and ate it. She’s going to make her own soon and I certainly believe it won’t be as messy as mine . Thanks for making the memories. P.S She slept over 😉

     
    Reply
    • Ajoke says

      November 19, 2016 at 6:04 pm

      Hahahahahahaha…. Thanks for the feedback bro

       
      Reply
  4. Adeyinka says

    August 24, 2016 at 6:12 am

    I tried the yam ball yesterday, I followed your recipe and method and the results was wow. Thanks so much. I would have love to show the picture but don’t know how to tag it to this message. U are the best.

     
    Reply
  5. Mrs Tosin K says

    August 20, 2016 at 10:40 am

    Nice one dear, i can’t wait to try it.

     
    Reply
    • Ajoke says

      August 21, 2016 at 7:40 pm

      Yay, do leave us a feedback when you do

       
      Reply
  6. Adeyinka says

    August 19, 2016 at 8:52 pm

    Wow! Thanks for this am going to try this tomorrow.

     
    Reply
    • Ajoke says

      August 21, 2016 at 7:39 pm

      You are welcome name sake. Kindly let us know your thots. x

       
      Reply
  7. maame afua says

    July 25, 2016 at 2:11 pm

    Recipe for yam balls well noted, but my mom used to prepare hers with breadcrumbs.

     
    Reply

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