🌿 Share this page

One bowl of fufu can explain a war. One proverb can outsmart a drought.

Welcome to the real Africa— told through food, memory, and truth.

Start Exploring Here

🔵 African Recipes & Cuisine

Dive into flavors from Jollof to fufu—recipes, science, and stories that feed body and soul.

Explore Recipes →

🔵 African Proverbs & Wisdom

Timeless sayings on love, resilience, and leadership—ancient guides for modern life.

Discover Wisdom →

🔵 African Folktales & Storytelling

Oral legends and tales that whisper ancestral secrets and spark imagination.

Read Stories →

🔵African Plants & Healing

From baobab to kola nuts—sacred flora for medicine, memory, and sustenance.

Discover Plants →

🔵 African Animals in Culture

Big Five to folklore beasts—wildlife as symbols, food, and spiritual kin.

Meet Wildlife →

🔵 African History & Heritage

Journey through Africa's rich historical tapestry, from ancient civilizations to modern nations.

Explore History →
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 is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage.

Trusted by: WikipediaEmory University African StudiesUniversity of KansasUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalMDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

View citations →

Dancing in Fried Yams

Learn how to cook buttermilk fried yams for the best fried Hausa yam recipe ever. Yams fried in egg batter and buttermilk with simple spices tastes incredibly good so make and share this fried Hausa yam recipe.

Buttermilk Fried Yams
Buttermilk Fried Yams
The Yam Belt, also known as the Yam Zone, is an area in West Africa where yams are a major staple crop. The Yam Belt spans across several countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Cote d'Ivoire. Yams are tuberous vegetables that are an important source of carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and essential minerals in the African diet. In the Yam Belt, yams are grown for both domestic consumption and export, and they play a crucial role in the economic and cultural life of the region. The Yam Belt is characterized by a humid tropical climate, with rainfall ranging from 1,000mm to 2,000mm per year. The soil in the region is typically well-drained, fertile, and rich in organic matter. Yams are usually grown as a rain-fed crop, although irrigation is sometimes used in areas with less reliable rainfall. In the Yam Belt, yams are typically grown using traditional farming techniques, such as slash-and-burn agriculture and intercropping. Yams are planted at the beginning of the rainy season and harvested about nine months later. Yams can be stored for several months after harvest, which makes them an ideal crop for subsistence farmers who need to feed their families throughout the year.

When you fry yams it helps to coat it in buttermilk egg batter because it helps to retain some of the yams moisture while forming a crispy and golden brown shell.

Buttermilk Fried Yams

Ingredients

3 medium sized yam
2 large eggs
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil for frying

Directions

In a large pot boil yam, it is easier to peal yams after boiling, and then slice into French fry sized pieces.

In a large frying pan heat oil. Whisk the eggs and milk in a large bowl. 

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, and spices. Add the flour to the milk mixture and mix until flour is incorporated. 

Place small amount of yams at a time into the egg flour mixture and add to your hot oil.

Fry until brown each side. Drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil and serve just as you would French fries or onion rings.



Did you know

What you call a yam is most likely a sweet potato. Yams and sweet potatoes are both flowering plants however, that is their only relation. Compared to sweet potatoes, yams are starchier and drier. Uganda leads the way in the production of sweet potatoes representing half the African supply followed by Nigeria and Tanzania. The yam belt of West Africa includes Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Central Africa, Cameroon and Togo, Nigeria alone produces 71 percent of the yams.

Carrying yams home for dinner tonight.



African woman farmer

She Feeds Africa

Before sunrise, after sunset, seven days a week — she grows the food that keeps the continent alive.

60–80 % of Africa’s calories come from her hands.
Yet the land, the credit, and the recognition still belong to someone else.

Read her story →

To every mother of millet and miracles —
thank you.

Africa Worldwide: Top Reads

Read More

African Ancestors and Atlantic Hurricanes: Myth Meets Meteorology

Survival of the Fattest, obese Europeans starving Africa

Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa by Land Area (2025 Update)

African Proverbs for Men About the Wrong Woman in Their Life

Charging Cell Phones in Rural Africa

Beware of the naked man who offers you clothes African Proverb

African Olympic Power: Top 10 Countries with the Most Gold Medals | The African Gourmet

Ugali vs Fufu — What’s the Difference Between Africa’s Beloved Staples?

Perfect South African Apricot Beef Curry Recipe

Usage of Amen and Ashe or Ase and Meaning

Week’s Best African Culture Posts

Korean vs African Cuisine: Fermentation, Fire & Flavor Bridges - The African Gourmet

African Wrestling Traditions: Dambe, Evala & Senegalese Laamb Explained

Kei Apple (Dovyalis caffra): Origins, Uses, Nutrition & Recipes

Kei Apple Recipes: Traditional African Fruit Cooking & Folk Science

Ugali vs Fufu — What’s the Difference Between Africa’s Beloved Staples?

Before You Buy Land in Africa: 8 Critical Pitfalls Every Diaspora Member Must Avoid

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.