BlessedNotStressed! Welcome to the family toolbox. : #African Delicacy - One Main Ingredient, 2 Dishes : Recipe for Ikokore (Water Yam Pottage) and Ojojo (Water Yam Balls)

Let’s go to Ijebu!

Ikokore is a tasty dish made from grated water yam and loved by the Ijebu people, South West-Nigeria. My husband is from Ijebu and I’ve seen him request for it at a family get-together. So, I have always wanted to make it at home (You know!). I got this easy and straightforward recipe from my sister-in-law and when I made it at home for the first time, it came out P-e-r-f-e-c-t-l-y. It’s now a welcome addition to our family table. My son has a name for every dish he savours, he calls this one sweet porridge. Ikokore is actually similar to yam porridge.

My mum used to make water yam balls (Ojojo) when I was a child, it was the only thing we made with water yam. Instead of just one dish, I thought this is an opportunity to also share on the blog how to make water yam balls from the left over grated water yam (which I left over intentionally anyways) - One Main Ingredient, 2 Dishes. Ojojo is one snack that will excite your taste buds. It can be served together with other small chops (finger foods) to create a filling meal while Ikokore can be served as a main dish.

Nutritional Value: Water yam is not your regular yam, its a different specie of yam that is rich in fibre and vitamins. It also serves as an antioxidant, helps to boost the immune system and to suppress blood sugar.

Ingredients:

Ikokore (Water Yam Pottage)

Water yam

Boiled Meat (Assorted) - optional

Palm oil

Dry chili pepper (grounded)

Fish (dried and smoked)

Smoked prawns

Stock cubes

Salt to taste

Ojojo (Water Yam Balls)

Water Yam

Chopped onions and chili pepper

Crayfish

Vegetable oil

Stock cubes - optional

Salt to taste

Preparation:

Cut the yam into chunks, peel, wash and grate (use the tiniest hole on the grater so it doesn't come out in shreds). Separate the grated water yam into 2 bowls (for the Ikokore and Ojojo). Then set aside.

Put some water in a pot to boil, add grounded dry pepper, stock cubes and salt to taste. (Add meat stock if you have). Some people use fresh pepper but that's just a loooong thing.

Add the boiled meat to the boiling content in the pot, rinse and add the smoked prawns, remove bone from fish and cut into pieces, rinse and also add to the pot. Then, allow to boil for about 5 - 10 minutes. Remove the meat, prawns and fish from the stock and set aside.

Add some salt to the grated water yam and mix together with your hands or a wooden turner. Scoop the grated water yam a little at a time with a spoon or with your hands into the boiling mixture on the burner.

Then, add some palm oil. Let it simmer for 3- 5 minutes before you mix (I prefer the wateryam to scatter a bit and form a sauce rather than lumps) or let it simmer longer before you mix if you want the water yam paste to form some lumps. All na same.

Cover the pot, reduce the heat and let it boil for about 15-20 minutes so the yam cooks thoroughly and sauce thickens.

Then add the boiled meat, fish and prawns, stir together to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Leave to simmer for about 5 more minutes. Then, Serve.

For the Ojojo:

To the second bowl of grated water yam; add some chopped onions and chili pepper, salt, dried crayfish ( you can use grounded crayfish) and stock cubes ( optional too).

Mix together with your hands or a wooden turner, then scoop into balls and deep fry in hot vegetable oil on medium heat for about 5 minutes or until light brown, turn to fry the other side and remove from oil.

Transfer into a kitchen napkin to drain excess oil and serve hot.

This snack is very yummy, your kids especially will love Ojojo.

* If you live outside Nigeria, water yam can be purchased in African, Asian or Hispanic stores.

Having a house party? Your guests, family and friends would love to be served some other delicacy apart from good old party Jollof rice.

Why not try out these recipes? Use one stone to kill two birds by using one main ingredient to make 2 dishes. Please tell me about it by leaving a comment below. I'd really love to hear from you.