I must confess that choosing a favorite meal is not easy but i know pounded yam and egusi soup with a nice chill juice to escort it down is my best and remains so until otherwise. I have other varieties i like tok such as beans porage, potato and plantain fries, jollof rice but non compares to my Pounded yam.
Pounded yam is a local Nigerian meal well recognized by each and every ethnic group in Nigeria. Just as each ethnicity varies, so also the mode and method of its preparation varies. As per history of the meal, it is believed that the meal evolved from the south western part of Nigeria specifically the horuba people. This is so because of their wide prowess in agriculture. But for me, i believe all cultures in Nigeria started to eat the meal because all areas of Nigeria are also vast in agriculture.
Photo Source
The making process involves mashing properly boiled yam either with a mortal and pestle or a mechine which breaks the yam into sticky pieces as well as the cabohydrate for easy digestion. Either ways it is still pounded yam. Personally i frown at Pounded Yam meshed with a machine. I just feel it takes away the feel that i am eating actual pounded yam. So i prefer the mortal and pestle regardless of the stress. There is however an invated form of pounded yam called Poundo Yam. This is also pounded yam but prepared in a different way. Poundo yam is made from yam floor. In this process, the yam is dried and grinded which is used to prepare the pounded yam through hot water. I also do not like method.
So my regular pounded yam is to be served with a very spicy and rich egusi soup. Egusi soup is made from mellon seeds. This has to be properly ganished with meat and fish of various categories. This tells you the nutritional value of the soup and of course the yam it self.
Talking about the nutritional value, Pounded yam is rich in progein, dietry fiber, vitamins especially vitamin c and minerals. However, it is very low in fat and callories. It contains much potassium and iron. It is a veey good diet for weight loss also.
Pounded yam remains a local meal eaten especially in Nigeria and all over the world today.
To enjoy your pounded yam, please make sure there is a rich soup containing variety of meat and fish. For Africans, we prefer bush meat. And you must ensure you have a nice chill beverage or water to escort this celebrity through your mouth to your system.
This is my response to the contest on #hiveghana on favorite meal and why.
