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Mpotompoto
Yam and cocoyam porridge
Mpotompoto: the Ashanti and Fante one-pot yam and cocoyam porridge in palm oil and tomato
Mpotompoto, also called yam pottage, is the dish Ghanaian mothers make on a rainy evening or for someone who needs comfort: chunks of yam and cocoyam simmered in a red, peppery broth of palm oil, tomato and onion until some pieces collapse and thicken the pot while others stay whole. It is soft, savoury and warming, eaten with a spoon from a bowl. Fante cooks on the coast often add smoked fish; this one is meat-free, with a handful of greens at the end. Chef's tip: stir gently and only a couple of times; the mistake is mashing it, which turns the whole pot into glue instead of a chunky porridge.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp red palm oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 3 tomatoesblended
- 1 scotch bonnet chillipricked, left whole for milder heat
- 1 ½ lb yampeeled and cut into 3 cm chunks
- 10 ½ oz cocoyampeeled and cut into chunks; or taro
- 3 ¼ cups water
- 1 tsp saltto taste
- 3 ½ oz spinach or kontomire leaves (optional)shredded
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Warm 4 tbsp red palm oil in a heavy pot over a medium heat and fry 1 onion until soft.
5 minStep 2: Add 3 tomatoes and 1 scotch bonnet chilli and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and the oil starts to separate.
8 minStep 3: Add 1 ½ lb yam, 10 ½ oz cocoyam, 3 ¼ cups water and 1 vegetable stock cube. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer.
5 minStep 4: Cook until the yam is very soft and some pieces have broken down to thicken the liquid into a porridge. Stir gently once or twice so it does not stick.
20 minStep 5: Season with 1 tsp salt, stir in 3 ½ oz spinach or kontomire leaves, if using, and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Fish out the whole chilli and serve hot.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 410 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 74 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 9 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mpotompoto take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 35 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.
- What can I use instead of tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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