STREET FOOD ; ROASTED YAM AND RED OIL

Hello bees, I'm pleased to share with you some information about my favorite street food. It's my favorite street food because of its unique natural taste, nutritional value and aroma. Reporting from Nigeria

There are different types of yams but my focus here is the Nigerian white yam scientifically known as Dioscorea rotundata. Yam is one of Nigeria's traditional foods and it has been consumed in ages especially in the igbo land. Yams can be prepared in different ways which includes frying, boiling, roasting. I will be writing on roasted yam. Tracing back years passed, roasted yam have been considered a full meal in the igbo land. Back then people consumed it just like that while others complement it with oil, seasoned with salt. Today with increased development, this yam is still consumed in its roasted form but more ingredients and seasoning has been adding to the oil according to a person's preference.

Roasting of yam takes skill, time and patience. Some people are able to prepare this on their own while others can't, maybe due to time or the lack of materials needed to prepare it. Thank God for the concept of street food, peoples are able to still consume this delicious meal even without knowing how it's made.

On my way back from school today, i was able to site a woman selling this dish on the street, and since its one of my favorite street foods i decided to go get some. I took some pictures in the process.

As seen in the pictures above, the yams has been sliced and roasted on a grill over a chacoal at low heat. The essence is to gradually heat up the yam until it is completely cooked, not to burn it. The bowl of oil, well seasoned with onion, pepper, salt and maggi is often placed on top of the grill, at the region where the heat is lowest. This is to preven the oil from clotting.

I bought 4 yams at 50 naira each. I didn't want to eat there, so a nylon wrap was used to package the food. Before serving the Customer, a knife is used to cut the yams into smaller sizes, and then the sauce is poured on it.

There is one special ingredient added after the sauce has been poured, that is the utazi leave,but it's added according to Customer's preference. Some people do not like it because of its bitter taste but it's very medicinal.