Fried Yam with Pepper Sauce (Dundu)
Fried yam with pepper sauce is a Nigerian staple that works as a snack or a full meal. Dundu is eaten across the country's many tribes. The cook adds a splash of water to the hot oil so the yam softens before it crisps. The sauce combines red bell peppers, Scotch bonnets, cayenne and onion with smoked dried fish, and it turns plain fried yam into something filling.
Instructions
Peel the yam and cut it into small cuboid or triangular chunks so it fries evenly. Keep the pieces in a bowl of water until you are ready to cook.
Set a clean frying pan over the heat and let any leftover water evaporate. Pour in about 500 ml of vegetable oil and let it heat up.
Add the yam to the hot oil in batches. Carefully pour in about 20 ml of water, which lets the yam cook through a little before it browns.
Fry each batch for about 15 minutes, then repeat until all the yam is cooked.
Blend the peppers and onions together into a chunky paste, using a blender or a grater. Wash the smoked fish and remove the bones.
Put a clean pot on the heat and dry out any water. Add vegetable oil and let it heat, then pour in the pepper paste and turn the heat to low so the sauce cooks slowly and fries well.
Stir in salt to taste, the seasoning cubes and the washed fish. Cook for about 15 minutes, then simmer for another 10.
Serve the sauce alongside the fried yam.
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