Oto (Mashed Yams with Red Onions) from Ghana
User Reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
3 servings
-
Calories
725 kcal
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Course
Side Dish, Main Course
Oto (Mashed Yams with Red Onions) from Ghana
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This celebratory dish is important in many Ghanaian homes, especially to celebrate weddings and coming-of-age ceremonies. Made by mashing yams with palm oil and onions, you can easily make this dish for a taste of Ghana at home.
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Ingredients
- 3 yams peeled and cubed
- ¼ cup Red Palm Oil
- 1 red onion finely diced
- 1 shrimp bouillon cube I substituted chicken as I couldn’t find shrimp
- sea salt to taste
- 2-3 hard boiled eggs
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 3 peeled and cubed yams and boil until fork tender. Strain the water out of the pot. Then place the yams in a large bowl, and mash.
- In the meantime, heat ¼ cup red palm oil in a pan over medium heat. Add 1 diced red onion to the oil and allow the onions to caramelize. Once caramelized, add 1 shrimp bouillon cube and continue stirring until fully dissolved.
- Add oil and onion mixture to the mashed yams. Mix to combine until the yam turns a bright yellow color. Season with sea salt to taste.
- Peel the 2-3 hard boiled eggs and place the entire eggs on top of the pot of yams. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe copyright The Foreign Fork. For educational or personal use only.
- If you can get ahold of Ghanaian yams, that would be your best option. The second best option is a smaller yam (aka white sweet potatoes), more commonly found in American grocery stores. As a last result, you can use sweet potatoes!
- Shrimp bouillon is most common for Oto, but you can also use chicken instead if necessary
- Use red palm oil for this recipe. I like
- Nutiva’s Palm Oil
- because it is fair trade and ethically sourced. In a pinch you can sub coconut oil instead.
- Generally you can make one egg per person eating
- If you want to season the oil before frying, you can briefly fry a bay leaf to give the oil some flavor
- Sometimes this recipe is shown as made with plantains instead of yams. Both are valid!
- This dish is sometimes served with roasted peanuts and avocado slices to make it a well-rounded and filling meal.
- Red Palm Oil has a very low smoking point (302 degrees Fahrenheit), so you don’t need to turn the heat up high on the stove when cooking the onions. A medium heat should do the trick.
- Yams: If you can get ahold of Ghanaian yams, that would be your best option. The second best option is a smaller yam (aka white sweet potatoes), more commonly found in American grocery stores. As a last result, you can use sweet potatoes!
- Bouillon Cubes: Shrimp bouillon is most common for Oto, but you can also use chicken instead if necessary
- Oil: Use red palm oil for this recipe. I like Nutiva’s Palm Oil because it is fair trade and ethically sourced. In a pinch you can sub coconut oil instead.
- Generally you can make one egg per person eating
- If you want to season the oil before frying, you can briefly fry a bay leaf to give the oil some flavor
- Sometimes this recipe is shown as made with plantains instead of yams. Both are valid!
- This dish is sometimes served with roasted peanuts and avocado slices to make it a well-rounded and filling meal.
- Red Palm Oil has a very low smoking point (302 degrees Fahrenheit), so you don’t need to turn the heat up high on the stove when cooking the onions. A medium heat should do the trick.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1serving
Calories
725kcal
(36%)
Carbohydrates
121g
(40%)
Protein
11g
(22%)
Fat
22g
(34%)
Saturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
8g
Cholesterol
125mg
(42%)
Sodium
399mg
(17%)
Potassium
3527mg
(101%)
Fiber
18g
(72%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
754IU
(15%)
Vitamin C
75mg
(83%)
Calcium
99mg
(10%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 3servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 725 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 725kcal | 36% |
| Carbohydrates | 121g | 40% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 125mg | 42% |
| Sodium | 399mg | 17% |
| Potassium | 3527mg | 75% |
| Fiber | 18g | 72% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 754IU | 15% |
| Vitamin C | 75mg | 83% |
| Calcium | 99mg | 10% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
3 reviews
Excellent
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