I know I've heard my mother say that there are two kinds of Nigerian yams. The obedient one, and the one who will decide to test your patience.
In my years of cooking, I never really believed it to be true. I believe that once the yams are on fire, they boil. No matter how stony it feels it will definitely soften up.
It wasn't until yesterday that I met the stubborn type.
After a busy long day, I was tired and famished. I had just a tuber of yams left to cook at home. So, I made sure to pick up some veggies on my way home, as I had other ingredients. It had been a long time since I ate porridge, so I felt like cooking some. I've been on fried yams and plain boiled yams ever since. I felt like spicing it up a bit.
I got home and took off my dress. I did want to freshen up because I knew that once I did that I would definitely lack the strength to cook. So I quickly walked into my kitchen and to work.
I cut the yams and washed them, then I put them in a pot. Since I was going to wait a few minutes for it to soften I decided to prep the other ingredients needed.
A few minutes later, I was fine prepping the other ingredients, but my yams were still boiling in large, hard chunks after about ten minutes.
I stood over the pot, spoon in hand, waiting for those hard white cubes to soften into the creamy comfort of yam porridge. I even added more water because the water it had earlier was almost dried up. I waited a few more minutes yet the yam looked back at me with the same hard face it had when I just peeled it.
By now the rumble in my stomach was becoming unbearable. Frustrated out of hunger and stubborn yams, I proceeded to add my red oil. I thought maybe that would help my yams soften. I added other ingredients and soon the smell of blended peppers and tomatoes filled the kitchen.
My veggies were washed already and waiting to join the mix to give that bit of green life. Soon everything was boiling with the aroma filling my room. But the star of the show refused to take direction.
I literally begged and negotiated with them to soften even if it’s only the edges. Let me at least pretend this porridge is ready. Honestly, I love my porridge with a very soft yam.
I ended up poking and mashing it with my spoon. Well, it began to soften a bit, just that my food was looking a bit unappetizing.
Have you ever had an experience like mine with a stubborn yam that refused to soften? I'd like to know.
Anyway, here’s how mine turned out in the end.
Be honest: does it still look appetizing?
Picture is mine