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Ojojo (water yam fritters)
Ojojo: crisp Yoruba fritters of grated water yam with onion and scotch bonnet
Ojojo is what Yoruba households do with water yam when they want a snack instead of a pottage, and roadside fryers in the Southwest sell it hot in paper with akara. The grated yam is mixed with chopped onion, fresh chilli and salt, then dropped by the spoonful into hot oil, where it puffs into craggy, golden fritters with a crisp shell and a soft, slightly chewy centre. Eat it hot with a pepper sauce, or with ogi (fermented corn pap) for breakfast. Wear gloves to peel and grate water yam, which makes the skin itch. Chef's tip: grate the yam just before frying and don't let the batter sit; it darkens and loosens as it stands.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ lb water yampeeled with gloves
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 1 scotch bonnet chilliesfinely chopped
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tbsp locust beansiru or dawadawa, rinsed; or 1 tsp white miso
- 3 cups vegetable oilfor deep-frying
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat 3 cups vegetable oil in a deep, heavy pan to 350°F, or until a drop of batter sizzles at once and rises to the surface.
8 minStep 2: Meanwhile, grate 1 ⅓ lb water yam on the fine side of a grater into a bowl. Mix in 1 onion, 1 scotch bonnet chillies, ½ tbsp locust beans and ¾ tsp salt; it should be a thick, sticky paste that holds on a spoon.
Step 3: Drop heaped teaspoonfuls into the oil, about 8 at a time, using a second spoon to push them off. Fry for 4–5 minutes, turning, until deep golden and crisp all over. Oil that is too cool is the usual mistake: the fritters soak it up and turn greasy, so let it come back to heat between batches.
12 minStep 4: Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ojojo (water yam fritters) take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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