Pounded yam (Iyán) is considered as the king of all foods because of its many outstanding characteristics ranging from how it’s been prepared to the palatable & pleasurable feeling it gives when consumed hence the popular saying “Iyán ni ọba oúnjẹ”. Pounded yam being a common food among the Yorubas and popularly called Iyán in the Yoruba language is a whitish/creamy looking food gotten from pounding of yam, the delicacy is a gooey dough-like textured food which is conventionally prepared by pounding/beating the boiled yams in a mortal with a pestle. Pounded yam is a delicacy that is attributed to promoting the rich and vast culture of the Yorubas and for this reason it is the most sorted after meal in occasions, festivals and anniversaries such as in Naming, marriages, funerals, housewarming etc. It is usually considered that a party without pounded yam is not a party.
The making of pounded yam involves getting good yams (those renowned for pounding), peeling these yams and slicing them into suitable sizes. These sliced pieces are boiled (without salt) and when it becomes soften you pound till it becomes sticky/dough-like, water (preferably hot water to preserve the warmth) is always added until the desired texture is achieved.
The pounded yam is best served with any soup and meat but however, the Yorubas preferred their pounded yam served with ẹ̀fọ́ rìrò or with Egusi soup alongside bush-meat, often times while eating this pounded yam it is usually stepped down with palm wine.
Pounded yam has benefits that are related to that of yam and they include; provision of good nutrition (because pounded yam is rich in fiber, minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates), easing of menopausal symptoms in women, enhancing higher mental functions, has certain anti-neoplastic properties, has anti-inflammatory activities on the body, raise blood glucose level, helps to reduce weight because of the fibers it contain and has antimicrobial activities as well.
However, some side effects has been described to be associated with excessive consumption of pounded yam and these include; headache, vomiting, worsening of some cancerous conditions and increase in clot formation in individuals with protein s deficiency.
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