Asaro
Asaro, also known as yam porridge is a traditional Nigerian dish made by cooking yam in a richly seasoned sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and oil. It is particularly popular among the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria but is enjoyed throughout the country.[1][2][3]
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 hr 5 min
- Servings
- As written in source
- Difficulty
- Advanced
Timings are approximate — worked out from the method, not measured in a test kitchen.
Ingredients
Quantities are retained as written by the source and do not scale automatically. Tap an ingredient to check it off as you go.
Cooking instructions
Equipment
Cooking pot
Equipment
Knife
Equipment
Chopping board
Equipment
Blender or food processor
Equipment
Mixing bowls
Equipment
Measuring cups and spoons
Equipment
Wooden spoon
Equipment
Colander or sieve
Equipment
Stove or other heat source
Procedure
Blend the tomatoes, peppers, and onion into a smooth purée.
Procedure
Heat the oil in a pot and add the purée. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Procedure
Stir in seasoning cubes, salt, and any protein being used.
Procedure
Stir in the water and bring to a boil.
Procedure
Gently stir in the cubed yam. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the yam becomes soft and some of it has broken down to thicken the dish.
Procedure
Add leafy vegetables if desired and cook for an additional 3–5 minutes.
Procedure
Adjust seasoning and remove from heat.
Notes, tips, and variations
Do not over-stir during cooking, as this may cause all the yam pieces to break apart. The dish should be thick and creamy but still contain visible yam chunks.
Notes, tips, and variations
Fresh stock can be used to enhance flavor.
Notes, tips, and variations
The amount of chile pepper can be adjusted according to personal taste.
Photo: Oyebolaesther · CC BY-SA 4.0 · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 · Photo source and licence
Wikibooks contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ · Adapted; quantities retained as written. · Original source
Read it through first
Skim all 19 steps before you start — it is the difference between cooking and firefighting.
Scale it
Use the quantities listed in the original recipe. Adjust them manually if making a different batch size.
Storage
Cool completely, then keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Reheating
Reheat gently with a splash of water in a covered pan, rather than blasting it, so nothing dries out.
Approximate values per serving. Worked out from the ingredient list — treat them as a guide, not a measurement.
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