How to Make Nigerian Pounded Yam Using a Blender/Food Processor

Hey, my lovelies! Welcome back to my cooking world! Today, we’ll be making the popular pounded yam using a blender or food processor.

Pounded yam has always been a beloved dish in Nigerian households, especially among the Yoruba, and more specifically the Ekiti people, known for their love of perfectly pounded yam.

But what if you could skip the hard work of using the traditional mortar and pestle and still enjoy this delicacy?

Today, I’ll show you how to make Nigerian pounded yam using a blender! Yes, you read that right—a blender.

As a child, I always had a love for pounded yam, even though I didn’t grow up in a home where it was a regular meal.

My family, being from Ogun State, usually made eba (garri) or amala, and while I never quite liked amala growing up, eba was my go-to. But something about pounded yam captured my heart.

During my time at university, I stayed with my aunt in Benue State, and that’s where I experienced pounded yam in all its glory—every Sunday! It was our staple, no questions asked. I ate pounded yam so often that I eventually got tired of it.

But even though I loved it, I couldn’t participate in pounding it myself due to an old fracture in my right hand, which made using the traditional mortar and pestle difficult for me.

Fast forward to my 30s, and I decided to give pounded yam another shot—this time using a blender.

To my amazement, it worked perfectly! The texture was just like the hand-pounded version, and the best part was that I avoided all the physical strain.

So here’s how you can make pounded yam with a blender in just a few simple steps.

Watch the video below for a step-by-step tutorial below to get the best result. Let’s get started!

Ingredients for Pounded Yam:

• Half a tuber of yam
• 3 cups of water
• Blender (I used the Ninja Blender)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare and Cook the Yam

1. Peel and cut the yam into small chunks or cubes.
2. Wash the yam thoroughly with plenty of water.
3. Place the yam pieces in a pot, add 3 cups of water, and bring to a boil.
4. Cook the yam for about 15 – 20 minutes, checking periodically with a fork to ensure the pieces are soft.

Step 2: Blend the Yam

1. Drain the water from the cooked yam.
2. Add a few pieces into the blender and blend on a low setting.
3. Gradually add more yam pieces, blending each batch until you achieve a smooth consistency.
4. Once it reaches your desired texture, the pounded yam is ready to serve!

Serve hot with your favorite Nigerian soups like egusi soup, efo riro, or ogbono.

Have you tried this with a blender?

Let me know how it turned out for you in the comments below! I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

Don’t forget to share this recipe with friends and family who might also love this quick and easy method. Let’s bring this delicacy to every home—no mortar and pestle required!