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Fried yam is a simple dish, but it tastes absolutely delicious. The crispy fries are made from African yam and they result in fantastic eating. They can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner with sauce and a choice of protein.
What is Fried Yam?
Fried yam is a crispy dish that can be eaten with a variety of sauces or even alone. It can be served as an appetizer or as a side dish. It is also popularly known as “dundun”
The ingredients needed to fry yam is just few, easy and handy.
Traditional Nigerian Dundun can be enjoyed in a few distinct ways. Fried yam is one of the most common ways to make a crispy side dish like this. If you prefer a healthy option, you can bake yam in the oven. This is not, however, the usual manner to prepare this dish.
Methods of frying Yam
You can either fry your yam or bake them, depending on the method you feel most comfortable with.
Method 1
- Frying yam is one of the easiest things to do; with an easy procedure as well
- First, The yam should be peeled, washed, and chopped. After that, soak the yam pieces for 5 minutes in water.
- In a saucepan or deep fryer, heat the oil and fried the yam chunks for a few minutes.
- Then, in the same saucepan, add 3-7 tbsp salted water and boil till golden yellow.
- Depending on how many yam fries you’re cooking, you’ll need to add more water. By adding water to the oil, the yam fries will cook on the inside as well as the outside.
Note: This is the most expedient technique. However, determining when the yam is cooked enough on the inside can be tricky. To see if the yam fries are done, take one out of the oil and poke it with a fork.
Method 2
- The yam should be peeled, washed, and chopped.
- Then, in a saucepan, add the yam chunks and enough water to cover them.
- Cook for 7-10 minutes, seasoning to taste.
- When the yam is done cooking, drain the water and deep fried the yam for 5- 7 minutes, or until golden yellow.
Note: Because you must parboil the yam before frying, this approach takes a little longer than the last one. Parboiling the yam, on the other hand, guarantees that the yam is soft on the inside, so you won’t have to worry about it being undercooked.
Method 3 (baked method)
Baked products typically include less calories than fried foods. To start, Preheat the oven at 230°C/446°F/Gas 8 @ 230°C/446°F/Gas 8. Then, set aside a foil-lined oven pan that has been lightly greased with oil.
- As with the other methods mentioned above, the yam should be peeled, washed, and chopped.
- Then, in a saucepan, add the yam chunks and enough water to cover them.
- In a saucepan, place the yam chunks and enough water to cover them. Cook for 7-10 minutes, seasoning to taste.
- Drain the water from the yam and place the pieces in a lightly greased baking tray (make sure they are not touching).
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown, turning occasionally.
Whether you decide to bake or fry your yam, the end product should be crispy; that’s the only way to enjoy “fried yam”. The whole preparation process before the crispiness is entirely up to you.
The following recipe is the basic frying method for yam.
Fried Yams
Ingredients
- yam as much as you can eat
- vegetable oil
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Peel and cut the yam tuber into 1 inch cylindrical discs. Make several cuts across the discs to get large chips. Wash the yam chips and place in a bowl.
- Add a little salt and toss the contents to distribute the salt. Set aside for 20 minutes.
- Fry the yam at 350°F.
- When the oil is heated, add a few yam chips, leaving enough room for flipping the chips.
- Stir the chips till they have turned golden.
- Remove the chips and place in the paper towels to absorb the oil.
