# Pounded yam

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pounded_yam
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pounded_yam.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pounded_yam
> Source revision: 1357208448
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{short description|Yam-based staple food from West Africa}}{{Infobox food
| name               = Pounded yam
| image              = Pounded yam (Iyàn).jpg
| caption            = Pounded yam
| type               = Swallow
| place_of_origin    = [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria)
| region             = [Hausa](/source/Hausa_people), [Igbo](/source/Igbo_people), [Yoruba](/source/Yoruba_people).
| served             = Warm
| main_ingredient    = *Yam
*Water
| minor_ingredient   = *Salt
}}

{{Use Nigerian English|date=May 2026}}
thumb|Pounded yam and soup
'''Pounded yam''' ({{langx|yo|iyán}}{{Audio|LL-Q34311 (yor)-Bamjos-Iyan.wav|listen}}, {{langx|ha|sakwara}}, {{langx|ig|utara-ji {{Audio|LL-Q33578 (ibo)-Vivian Amalachukwu-utara-ji.wav|Listen|help=no}}}}) is a Nigerian [swallow](/source/swallow_(food)) or [okele](/source/okele) food.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Osinkolu |first=Lola |date=2019-06-13 |title=Pounded Yam |url=https://cheflolaskitchen.com/pounded-yam/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Chef Lola's Kitchen |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Oyibo |first=Emmanuel |date=2020-04-15 |title=Top 20 Nigerian Foods That Will Blow Your Taste Buds |url=https://www.chefspencil.com/top-20-nigerian-foods/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Chef's Pencil |language=en-US}}</ref> It is commonly prepared by pounding boiled [yam](/source/Yam_(vegetable)) with a [mortar and pestle](/source/mortar_and_pestle).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-29 |title=How To Make Pounded Yam – Old Fashioned Pounded Yam With Pestle And Mortar |url=https://theonlinecook.com/how-to-make-pounded-yam-old-fashioned-pounded-yam-with-pestle-and-mortar/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=The Online Cook |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Damola |first=Karo-Dare |title=The vanishing pounded yam |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/the-vanishing-pounded-yam/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=[The Nation](/source/The_Nation_(Nigeria))}}</ref> Pounded yam is similar to mashed [potato](/source/potato)es but heavier in consistency. It is smooth and eaten with the hands.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pounded Yam Recipe |url=https://www.chefspencil.com/recipe/pounded-yam/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Chef's Pencil |language=en-US}}</ref>

It can be served with [egusi](/source/egusi) soup, jute leaves soup ([ewedu](/source/Ewedu_soup)), stewed spinach ([efo riro](/source/efo_riro)), [okra soup](/source/okra_soup), [ofe akwu](/source/Palm_nut_soup) (palmnut soup), ofe nsala (white soup), and others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Egusi Soup And Pounded Yam Recipes |url=https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/egusi-soup-and-pounded-yam/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Food Network Canada |language=en-CA}}</ref>

== Preparation ==
[[File:Nigeria yam2.jpg|thumb|A yam market in [Lagos](/source/Lagos), Nigeria]]
It is prepared by pounding boiled [yam](/source/Yam_(vegetable)) with a [mortar and pestle](/source/mortar_and_pestle), yam grinder, food processor or mixer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Damola |first=Karo-Dare |title=The vanishing pounded yam |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/the-vanishing-pounded-yam/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=[The Nation](/source/The_Nation_(Nigeria))}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sanusi |first=Ayobami |date=2024-06-22 |title=No mortar and pestle? Check out 3 simple ways to make pounded yam |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/no-mortar-and-pestle-check-out-3-simple-ways-to-make-pounded-yam/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |newspaper=[Nigerian Tribune](/source/Nigerian_Tribune)|language=en-GB}}</ref> The type of yam used for pounded yam is the African yam also known as puna yam, true yam or white yam.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Osinkolu |first=Lola |date=2021-08-27 |title=YAM {{!}} TRUE YAM {{!}} AFRICAN YAM |url=https://cheflolaskitchen.com/true-yam-african-yam/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Chef Lola's Kitchen |language=en-US}}</ref> The texture is rough with brown skin and off-white flesh with its length similar to regular [potato](/source/potato)es up to five feet long. African yam is rich in [carbohydrate](/source/carbohydrate)s and [calorie](/source/calorie)s.<ref>{{Citation |title=Paper, board and pulps. Determination of acid-soluble magnesium, calcium, manganese, iron, copper, sodium and potassium |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3403/30198875 |publisher=BSI British Standards |doi=10.3403/30198875 |access-date=2022-05-15|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-02 |title=How to make Pounded Yam (Nigerian Swallows Recipe) - African Food Network |url=https://afrifoodnetwork.com/recipes/swallow-recipes/pounded-yam/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Serving==
thumb|upright|Egusi soup

thumb|upright|Banga soup

Pounded yam is eaten with okro soup, [ẹ̀fọ́ rírò](/source/Efo_riro), [banga soup](/source/palm_nut_soup) (ofe akwu), [ogbono](/source/Ogbono_soup), gbẹ̀gìrì soup and Egusi soup.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Afrolems |title=Efo Riro and Pounded Yam Recipe - Food.com |url=https://www.food.com/recipe/efo-riro-and-pounded-yam-499527 |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=www.food.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=10 Most Popular Nigerian Soups |url=https://www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-soups-in-nigeria |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=www.tasteatlas.com}}</ref>

== Variations ==
A variation of pounded yam peculiar to [Ile-Ife](/source/Ile-Ife) is known as iyan gbere. This version of the dish incorporates the [African breadfruit](/source/African_breadfruit) (''[Treculia africana](/source/Treculia_africana)'').<ref>{{Cite news |last=Olufunke |date=2021-07-17 |title=Nigeria’s medicinal plants: Artocarpus altilis (Gbere) |url=https://punchng.com/nigerias-medicinal-plants-artocarpus-altilis-gbere/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |newspaper=[The Punch](/source/The_Punch)|language=en-US}}</ref> To prepare iyan gbere, the African breadfruit is first cooked until it is soft. It is then pounded or blended to create a smooth, dough-like consistency. This breadfruit paste is combined with the traditional yam paste used in iyan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HISTORY OF IFEWARA – IPOB ONTARIO |url=https://ipobontario.ca/history-of-ifewara/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=AdminTO |date=2017-04-30 |title=Ifewara: Yoruba town where diabetics are rare |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/ifewara-yoruba-town-diabetics-rare/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |newspaper=[Nigerian Tribune](/source/Nigerian_Tribune)|language=en-GB}}</ref> Iyan gbere is served with Nigerian soups such as egusi or okra soup. The addition of the African breadfruit gives the dish a distinct taste and nutritional profile.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2019-04-27 |title=Ile-Ife, the city of culture |url=https://guardian.ng/features/ile-ife-the-city-of-culture/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2024-04-03 |newspaper=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian_(Nigeria))|language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [Eba](/source/Eba)
* [Fufu](/source/Fufu)
* [Amala](/source/Amala_(food))
* [List of African dishes](/source/List_of_African_dishes)
* [Nigerian cuisine](/source/Nigerian_cuisine)
* {{portal-inline|Food}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://allnigerianfoods.com/pounded-yam Pounded yam recipe from All Nigerian Foods]

Category:Central African cuisine
Category:Yoruba cuisine
Category:Igbo cuisine
Category:Nigerian cuisine
Category:Staple foods
Category:Swallows (food)
Category:Yam dishes

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pounded yam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pounded_yam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pounded_yam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.