Nigerian yam and egg recipe made with succulent boiled yam and fried eggs garnished with vegetables and sardines is one of the sweetest combinations you can think of in the country.

Boiled yam and fried eggs are a common breakfast choice in Nigerian homes. Yam is a popular staple in West African countries which means lots of yams are planted annually to meet this demand.

According to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria accounted for about 70 percent of the world’s production amounting to 17 million tonnes from land area 2,837,000 hectares under yam cultivation.

Yams have a distinct brown skin and can be white, yellow, purple, or pink inside depending on the type of yam and maturity.

Ingredients in This Recipe

Yam, eggs, onion, scotch bonnet (or chili pepper), tomatoes, sardines, cooking oil, sugar and salt to taste. The egg itself can be fried with only a pinch of salt, but Nigerian-style fried eggs will need some vegetables in them.

Sardines are optional and can be subbed for corned beef or shrimp.

How to Make Nigerian Yam and Eggs

Though this recipe is quite simple and easy to follow, the key is to measure the ingredients in the right quantity.

The two are not prepared together, we need to discuss them one by one.

How to Boil Yam

Boiling yam is the simplest way of cooking yam compared to roasting and frying; all you have to do is slice the yam, peel the skin off, and cook in water:

1. Slice the yam tuber with a sharp knife. Yam should be sliced from the tip which is usually the softest end.

2. Peel the yam with a knife. If the yam is cut into round slices, it can easily be peeled by holding a slice in one palm and gently going around while peeling the skin off with a knife on the other hand.

This is the perfect method to peel yam especially if you don’t plan to eat it all at once. Yam can also be peeled by setting the base on a firm surface pointing upwards, then slicing the skin off with a knife in vertical strips. This is the common way used by food vendors as it is faster.

3. Place each slice of yam in cold water. This is very essential to keep the slices from getting brown and dry.

4. Rinse the yam under cold water and toss in a saucepan. Add 400mls of water and season with sugar (optional) and salt to taste. 400mls of water should cook about 800g-1kg of yam, so add more water accordingly.

5. Boil for about 20-25mins at high-medium heat. Check halfway to ensure that the water hasn’t dried out. Once the yam is cooked, drain out any excess water so the yam doesn’t get too soft and sticky.

How to Make Nigerian-style Fried Eggs

Eggs can be fried by just cracking and tossing in hot cooking oil, but Nigeria-style fried eggs need a lot more finessing; hence, why it is tastier and more sumptuous.

I learned this recipe from my mum while I was still a kid and it has stuck with me to date. This is how it is done:

1. Crack your eggs in a mixing bowl and garnish with sliced tomatoes, onions, and scotch bonnet.

2. Add shredded sardines (or corned beef or shrimp), salt, and stock cubes and mix with a fork or whisk. your eggs are enough for you.

3. Place a non-stick frying pan on the hob over medium heat and add tablespoons of cooking oil. Let the oil heat up for about two minutes before tossing the egg batter in. I used the sunflower oil from the sardine can, which means I didn’t have to use extra oil.

4. Fry for three to four minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Flip and fry for another two to three minutes.

Another trick for a well-fried egg is to add a little bit of water with the oil before tossing the egg in.

The delicacy is a delicious one and you need to try it. Kindly follow the recipe above and you will not have any need to employ the services of a chef for the preparation of this dish.