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Vegetarian, Africa and overseas

Asaro, Nigerian yam and tomato stew

Asaro is a Nigerian mashed yam dish simmered in a pepper and tomato sauce, spiced with fresh chili and finished with spinach. This recipe serves 4, takes 55 minutes, is easy to make, and costs about €2.30 per serving. The key is mashing the yam only roughly, so small chunks stay in the final dish.

Tonight, a rustic Nigerian mashed yam dish, asaro, simmered in a pepper and tomato sauce, with spinach stirred in at the end.

Asaro, Nigerian yam and tomato stew
Total time
55 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.30
Calories per person
590 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

Asaro isn't a smooth mash like you might expect. The boiled yam gets roughly mashed, then folded into a sauce of red peppers and tomatoes that's been cooked down until the oil rises to the surface, the sign it's ready. The result is soft, slightly chunky, deeply flavored, and just spicy enough from the fresh chili.

It's a comforting weeknight dish for the whole family, with yam standing in for potato but bringing a milder sweetness and a denser bite. Spinach stirred in at the very end adds freshness and color. Mon Chou suggests it in fall and winter, when you want something warming that doesn't feel heavy.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Yam 1 kg
  • Red bell peppers 2
  • Tomatoes 3
  • Onions 2
  • Fresh chili 1
  • Fresh spinach 300 g

Pantry

  • Palm oil or peanut oiloften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

The step by step recipe

  1. Peel the yam, cut it into cubes, and cook it in salted water. 20 min

    It's ready when a knife slides in like through butter.

  2. Blend the peppers, tomatoes, one onion, and the chili. 5 min

    A rough blend gives the sauce a bit more character.

  3. Cook the other onion in the oil, add the pepper puree, and let it simmer. 15 min

    Keep cooking until the sauce thickens and the oil rises to the top.

  4. Drain the yam, keeping a bit of the cooking water, add it to the sauce, and mash roughly. 5 min

    Pour in the cooking water little by little to control the texture.

  5. Stir in the shredded spinach, let it wilt, adjust the seasoning, and serve hot. 5 min

    Avoid overcooking the spinach so it stays bright green.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a firm yam with no soft spots, it holds up better during cooking and mashes more cleanly.
  • Let the sauce reduce until it's visibly thick before mixing in the yam, otherwise the stew stays too watery.
  • Taste the chili before adding the whole thing, some are much hotter than others.

The variations

  • Swap the yam for sweet potato if you can't find any, the texture will be a bit sweeter.
  • For more heat, add a second chili or keep the seeds in.
  • For kids, leave the chili out of the blended sauce and serve a bit of chili sauce on the side for the adults.

What to serve it with

  • A fried or boiled egg on top
  • Flaked smoked fish
  • Fresh ginger juice

Storage

Asaro keeps 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well, ideally without the spinach, which you can stir in fresh when reheating. Reheat gently over low heat with a splash of water to bring back a soft texture.

Questions about this dish

Can I use something other than yam?

Sweet potato or green plantain work well if you can't find yam. The flavor will be a touch sweeter but the texture stays similar.

Do I need palm oil specifically?

No, peanut oil works just fine and gives a more neutral result. Palm oil mainly adds a deeper orange color and a traditional flavor note.

Can I make asaro ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook the mashed yam and the sauce separately the day before. Combine them and stir in the spinach right before serving so it stays bright green.

How do I make it milder for kids?

Remove the chili seeds or skip the chili in the shared sauce entirely. You can offer extra chili on the side for adults who want more heat.

How long does it take to make an asaro, a Nigerian yam and tomato stew?

Count 55 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in an asaro, a Nigerian yam and tomato stew?

About 590 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does an asaro, a Nigerian yam and tomato stew cost?

About €2.30 per serving, or €9.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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