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Sweet potato pottage
Sweet potato pottage: soft chunks cooked down in a palm-oil pepper sauce with greens
Yam pottage (asaro) is the famous one, but in homes from Ogun to Benue the same one-pot method is used for sweet potatoes when they are cheap in the market. Chunks of white or orange sweet potato are simmered in red palm oil with onion and blended pepper until some pieces collapse into a thick, glossy sauce and others hold their shape, then a handful of greens goes in at the end. It is a filling breakfast or light lunch, sweet, peppery and soft. Vegan as written; many cooks add crayfish. The common mistake is stirring hard from the start, which turns everything to mush; leave it alone until the last few minutes. Chef's tip: mix a white-fleshed and an orange sweet potato; the white one gives body and the orange one sweetness and colour.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 lb sweet potatoes (white and orange)peeled and cut into 4 cm chunks
- 3 ½ tbsp red palm oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 1 red bell pepperseeded
- 1 vegetable stock cubevegan, gluten-free if needed
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 ½ oz spinach or ugu leavesshredded
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Blend 1 red bell pepper, 1 scotch bonnet and half of ½ onion to a coarse purée.
2 minStep 2: Warm 3 ½ tbsp red palm oil in a heavy pot over a medium-low heat, add the rest of ½ onion and fry for 3 minutes, then add the purée and fry for 2 minutes.
5 minStep 3: Add 2 lb sweet potatoes (white and orange), 1 vegetable stock cube, ½ tsp salt and just enough water to come halfway up the potatoes (about 400 ml). Cover and simmer for 12–15 minutes without stirring.
15 minStep 4: Uncover and stir gently, mashing a few pieces against the side to thicken the sauce. The rest should be tender but whole.
5 minStep 5: Fold in 3 ½ oz spinach or ugu leaves and cook for 2–3 minutes until wilted. Taste for salt and serve hot.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 52 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 8 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sweet potato pottage take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 30 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 sweet potatoes (white and orange)?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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