As I mentioned in previous posts, I have started to share some of the content for my future “Foodie City Mom” site (that is launching in June) here. One of the the things that I’m most excited about is being able to share some of the food and recipes of my personal friends. While one friend joked that “it’s just an excuse” for me to get my friends to cook for me, that is only partially true :-). One of the great things about being a foodie who lives in NYC is that there is such an ethnic diversity of foods…and my friends represent that!
That is why I am super happy to share my first “Cooking With My Friends” segment featuring the authentic African food of my Nigerian friend Yemisi Awosan. When I asked Yemisi if I could come over to see her prepare a traditional African dish, I had no idea that she was going to prepare a feast! She ended up making two meat dishes and two sides. I will share one recipe a week through the end of the month. I am starting off with a relatively easy recipe for iyan (pounded yam) that I previously knew as fufu. I’m sharing a video and the actual recipe that was used.
I learned so much about regional African cooking during our time together. Yemisi is a fountain of information. Of course, I can’t wait to help her start her own African food themed blog in the near future. It would be fabulous! (By the way…that little kid who interrupts us is Sean. Yes, my kids come along with me to my friends’ homes at times!)
Iyan/Fufu (Pounded Yam) – Western Version
Total Time: 20 Min
Cook Time: 20 Min
Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
Ingredients
-2 ½ Cups of Yam powder mix***Best brand to use is Ado yam
-4 Cups of Boiling Water
Directions
1. In a sauce pan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil using medium heat. Set aside ½ cup of the boiling water.
2. Still using medium heat, slowly pour 2 cups of the yam powder mix into the boiling water while stirring with a rolling pin (a French rolling pin is perfect). Continue to add the remaining yam powder mix until the mixture has a dough-like consistency.
3. Turn off the heat. Keep stirring until the Yam powder mix is fully incorporated. (The desired result is a dough consistency.)
4. Using low heat, pour the remaining ½ cup of hot water on the dough mixture and let the mixture boil for three minutes.
5. Turn off the heat. Thoroughly stir the mixture until the water is fully incorporated into the dough. Scoop the dough into a bowl and serve immediately.
(This can be served with Egunsi stew, Obe Ata or Ila. Over the course of this month, we will share all of those recipes!)