Cookbook:Fried Yam with Pepper Sauce

Fried yam (dundu) is a dish common among all the tribes in Nigeria. It is a simple delicacy that can serve as either a main meal or a snack. A sauce goes well with fried yam and makes it more filling.

Ingredients

 * Yam
 * Vegetable oil
 * Tatase (red bell peppers)
 * Rodo (Scotch bonnet chiles)
 * Shombo (cayenne pepper)
 * Alubosa (onions)
 * Smoked dried fish
 * Seasoning cubes

Fried Yam

 * 1) Peel the yam and cut into small chunks for easier frying—most people cut into cuboid or triangular shapes. Put in a bowl of water.
 * 2) Put a clean frying pan on fire, and dry out any residual water.
 * 3) Pour about 500 ml vegetable oil into the dry pot, and allow to heat up.
 * 4) Add the yam pieces to the oil in batches. Carefully add about 20 ml of water—the water is to allow the yam cook a little before frying.
 * 5) Cook each batch of yam for about 15 minutes.
 * 6) Repeat the process until all the yam is fried.

Sauce

 * 1) Blend all the peppers and onions together to a chunky paste with a blender or a grater.
 * 2) Wash and debone the fish.
 * 3) Put a clean pot on the fire, and dry out any residual water.
 * 4) Pour vegetable oil into the dry pot, and allow to heat up.
 * 5) Pour the pepper paste into the hot oil, and reduce the heat to low. This allows the sauce to cook slowly and fry well.
 * 6) Add salt to taste, the condiments, and then the washed fish.
 * 7) Cook for about 15 minutes, and then simmer for another 10.
 * 8) Serve with the fried yam.