About this Dish
West Africa's great starchy staple — boiled yam pounded in a mortar until silky smooth and elastic, used to scoop soups and stews. The pounding requires strength and skill. Served with egusi soup, okra soup or banga soup. Machine-pounded versions exist but are considered inferior.
IngredientsServes 4
🍠White yam (Dioscorea rotundata), 1kg peeled and cut into chunks
💧Water, enough to boil and a small bowl reserved for pounding
🧂Salt, a generous pinch for boiling
Method
1
Peel the yam with a sharp knife, removing all the brown skin and any tough or discoloured spots. Cut into evenly sized chunks, roughly 5–7cm, so they cook at the same rate.2
Place the yam pieces in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add a pinch of salt, bring to a boil, then cook on a vigorous simmer for 25–35 minutes until the yam is very soft and a fork passes through with zero resistance — it must be completely tender, not al dente.3
Drain the cooked yam thoroughly in a colander and let any steam escape for 1–2 minutes. Do not rinse with cold water; you want it hot for pounding.4
Transfer the hot yam pieces in batches into a sturdy wooden mortar. Begin pounding firmly and rhythmically with a heavy wooden pestle, working from the edges inward. Pound with purpose — this takes real effort and 10–15 minutes of sustained work.5
As you pound, occasionally dip the pestle into your reserved bowl of warm water to prevent sticking and keep the mixture smooth. Add the water sparingly — just a splash at a time — too much will make it watery and soft.6
Continue pounding and folding the yam over itself, turning the mortar as you go, until the mixture becomes completely smooth, glossy, and elastic with no lumps remaining. It should stretch and pull away cleanly from the pestle like a firm, silky dough.7
Wet your hands or a spoon, scoop portions into a round dome shape, and serve immediately in a bowl alongside egusi soup, okra soup, or banga soup. Pounded yam must be eaten hot.User Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first!
Sign in to leave a review
Members can create lists, save favourites and get recommendations.
Find the Best Pounded Yam Near Me
AI-powered — Google, TripAdvisor and food blogs
🔥 Viral Recipes
How the world's most famous chefs — and creators — make this dish
Rozy's Kitchen
1.8M views
🌍 Food Vlogs
Food vloggers eating and cooking it at the source
🌍
No videos yet
What To Eat
The World's Food Guide
© 2025 What To Eat · hello@whattoeat.world