Curried Taro Yam Breadfruit Recipes

CARROT AND YAM PUREE

Steps:

• In a saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute until aromatic. Add the carrots, yams, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook for 5 minutes until slightly softened. Add the stock and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the carrots are tender, about 25 minutes. Using a ladle, remove 2 cups of the cooking liquid and reserve. Using an immersion blender, puree the mixture until slightly chunky, adding the reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Cook's Note: The carrot mixture can also be drained in a colander and working in batches, blended in a food processor or blender.

ASARO (YAM AND PLANTAIN CURRY)

Steps:

• Heat a medium pot, large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium. Pour in the neutral oil, add the sliced shallots and cook, stirring frequently, until shallots are caramelized and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove shallots from the oil and allow to drain on paper towels or a cooling rack. Season with salt and set aside.
• Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the cooking oil out of the pot. (Reserve extra oil for another use.) Over medium-low heat, add the garlic, ginger and turmeric to the pot and sauté until softened and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for an additional 2 minutes or until it begins to stick to the bottom of the pot.
• Drop in the chile and add the whole peeled tomatoes with their juices, crushing the whole tomatoes with your hands as they go in. Stir to combine ingredients and dissolve the tomato paste, then add 3 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Once boiling, season with salt, reduce heat to medium, add the yams and simmer until the yams are just beginning to soften, about 10 minutes. Add the plantains and cook until both are tender but hold their shape, and the liquid is slightly reduced and thickened, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Stir in the coconut milk and red palm oil, if using, season with more salt and let simmer for another 10 minutes. Add the greens and cook until tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
• To serve, remove and discard the cooked chile. Ladle the curry into bowls, top with the caramelized shallots, a scattering of basil and cilantro, and several squeezes of lime juice.

DEEP FRIED TARO/YAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Wash taro and yam skin then pat dry, peel off skin, use towel to wipe any slime -- to prevent this do not wash after peeling) -yam to steam and mashed. Mix and stir wheat starch and water till you have a texture like thick glue, so control the hot water as you go along. Mix in shortening, sugar, salt, five spice, sesame oil and pepper. Divide into 24 balls and flatten set aside.
• For the filling, heat up 2 Tb oil and saute scallion and garlic till fragrant. Add diced meat, prawns, and mushrooms and stir fry 2 minutes. Add green peas and seasoning (the last of the ingredients except for the oil). Cook till thick and almost dry.
• Dish and leave to cool. Distribute evenly among the flattened pastry. Enclose the the filling and shape into puffs.
• Heat up oil and deep fry puffs on the ladle to prevent sticking to the bottom of wok and cause tearing to the tender puffs.
• Fry till golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

CURRIED TARO, YAM, BREADFRUIT

Steps:

• Peel vegetable(s), cut into pieces and steam or boil until half cooked.
• Cool and cut into 1/2" cubes. Heat butter and oil in large pot or fry pan.
• Add ginger and garlic and stir-fry over low heat for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the prepared vegetables and spices, tossing the spices until well mixed before adding.
• Put a lid on the pan and steam for a few minutes.
• Season to taste.