🇧🇯 Beninese Cuisine

Yam Pile

Pounded Yam

Prep Time 15 min
Servings 4
Difficulty Hard
Calories 324 kcal

Boiled white yam pounded in a mortar until perfectly smooth, stretchy, and elastic. Yam pile is the prestige staple of Benin, reserved for honored guests and celebrations.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1 Peel yam, cut into chunks, and boil in salted water until very tender.
  2. 2 Drain and transfer to a large mortar.
  3. 3 Pound with a pestle, adding small splashes of warm water as needed.
  4. 4 Continue pounding vigorously for 15-20 minutes until completely smooth and elastic.
  5. 5 Shape into a smooth dome and serve immediately with soup or sauce.

Did You Know?

In Benin, a woman's skill at pounding yam was traditionally one of the qualities evaluated before marriage proposals.