Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories through food, history, and folklore. Selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage, ensuring our digital timeline endures for generations.

Trusted by: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

View citations →

Start Your African Journey

From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

Taro Root Tomato Pottage Stew Recipe

Explore More Content

📁 African food

Popular in This Category

Taro Root serves as a significant agricultural produce that features in various African cuisines as a staple ingredient.

Taro Root is a staple crop used in many African recipes. It is a tuber that grows underground and has a brown skin and a white flesh. Taro Root is rich in carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamin C. It can be boiled, fried, roasted, or mashed to make various dishes. Some of the popular dishes made with Taro Root are fufu, ndole, and cocoyam.

Three quick Taro root facts.

1. Taro root is a starchy vegetable consisting of 2/3 water with a fibrous outer coating.
 
2. Taro root is commonly used in place of potatoes.
 
3. Taro root and leaves should not be eaten raw.

Taro root is a starchy vegetable that has a nutty and slightly sweet flavor. It is widely used in many cuisines around the world, especially in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. Taro root has many health benefits, such as being rich in fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidants. It can help lower blood pressure, improve digestion, boost immunity, and prevent constipation. Taro root is also gluten-free and low in calories, making it a good choice for people with celiac disease or those who want to lose weight.

However, taro root is not safe to eat raw. It contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause irritation and swelling in the mouth and throat. To avoid this, taro root must be cooked thoroughly before consumption. You can boil, bake, roast, fry, or mash taro root and use it in various dishes such as soups, stews, curries, salads, desserts, and snacks. Taro root can also be made into flour and used for baking breads and cakes.

If you are looking for a versatile and nutritious vegetable to add to your diet, you should try taro root. It is easy to prepare and has a delicious taste and texture. Just remember to cook it well before eating and enjoy its many benefits.

Taro Root is a staple crop used in many African, Asian, Caribbean, and Hawaiian recipes.

Taro Root

Taro Root is a highly regarded and widely utilized crop in the culinary traditions of various regions, including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. Its versatility and unique flavor make it a popular ingredient in a wide range of dishes, from savory stews and soups to sweet desserts and snacks. Additionally, Taro Root is known to have numerous health benefits due to its high levels of fiber, vitamin E, and potassium. Overall, it is a valuable and beloved staple in many cultural cuisines. Root goes by many names in Africa; a few names for taro are urap, qolqas, arrow root, ggobe, nduma, madhumbe, idumbe, cocoyam, and malanga.

Taro leaves

Taro leaves

Taro Root Tomato Pottage Stew Recipe

Ingredients

2 taro roots

2 handfuls cleaned taro leaves, chopped finely

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 medium ripe tomatoes, diced

2 tablespoons palm oil

Salt and pepper to taste

2 cups vegetable broth

 

Directions

Wash taro root boil with skin in salted water until soft. Drain, peel and cut into pieces. Wash chopped taro leaves and stems boil 5 minutes and drain. In a medium frying pan add palm oil and sauté onions with seasonings; add taro root, leaves, broth, and tomatoes simmer 15 minutes. Serve over fufu or rice.

Taro root is rich in fiber and vitamin E; magnesium improves digestion and may help lower blood sugar.


Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

Africa Worldwide: Top Reads

Africa × World: Editor's Picks

Cross-continental food, science, history, and cultural exchanges from the archive

African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.