Yam is a member of sweet potatoes ancestors. It is cultivated in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. It is mainly cultivated for the utilization of their starch tubers. Sweet potatoes are sometimes also referred to as ‘Yam’ in countries like United States and Canada. ‘Yam’ is usually known as the ‘common desert truffle’ in marine countries.

There are more than hundred tribes and vernaculars in Nigeria, and every tribe has different meaning for yam. Yam is a resourceful vegetable, it has several plagiaristic products. Yams can be barbecued, roasted, grilled, fried, smoked, boiled and when it is baked, it is routed into a desert recipe.

The tuber of the yam grows up to 3m tall and the weight of yam tubers if more than 65 kg. Yam has rough skin, and it is difficult to peel it.  You can soften yam by heating it. The skins of the vegetables differ in color from brown to pink. The bulk of the yam is made of a softer material, which is termed as the “meat”. The material varies in shade from white to yellow and from purple to pink in mature yams.  If you want to cook yams, then just follow the instructions given below.

Things required:

• Yams
• Butters
• Mashers
• Casserole

Instructions:

• To cook yams, you will have to bake it first. Baking is the most basic method to cook yams. Rinse them properly, by using a vegetable brush. Now, pierce them by using a jagged knife or fork. The tuber of the yams can blow up if they don’t have an opening for steaming. Now, heat your oven to the temperature of 400 degree Fahrenheit and then bake your yams for at least 50 minutes. Once done, the skin of the yam will be creased. Cut them and put in a small quantity of butter or a strong spread and a pinch of cinnamon.

• Cooking yams in the casserole is also a good option. For this method, rinse the yams and peel it. Now cut it into six to seven average sized pieces. Now, put some oil in the casserole dish and then put some pieces of yams in it. Rub some butter over yams. Sprinkle some amount of broken walnuts over yams and coat it with cinnamon.

• Just keep layering the surface of the yams with drizzling honey. Bake the yams in a covered vessel in the 400 degree preheated oven, for at least 40 minutes. When yams become tender, take off the lid and then insert the casserole below the broiler for ten minutes or until it becomes brown.

• You can also make yummy French fries with yams. For this recipe, first of all you will have to rinse the yams thoroughly. Now, peel it and slice them into strips. Put the yams in a synthetic bag and mix 2 tablespoon of cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of nutmeg in it. Insert 2 tbsp of olive oil and tremble to cover.

• Spread the yams on the baking piece, and bake it at 400 degree temperature in the oven for almost 30 minutes. When your fries become brown, it means they are ready to serve.

• You can also make mashed yams, which is really yummy and easy to make. For that you will have to clean the yams and peel them. Now, cut them and boil them. Once it becomes warm, then remove it from stove and drain the water from it. Mash yams with ¼ cup of butter, 2tbsp of cinnamon, and 2tbsp of nutmeg, and 1 cup of low fat milk.

• Start mashing and put some more milk in it. This will help you to stop milk from curdling when it gets in touch with sizzling yams. To mash yams, you can also use potato masher, blender or a big spoon.

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