The oil is already hot when the sun goes down. At a roadside stand, a woman slices yam into thick wedges and lowers them into a deep pan, while beside her chofi, fried turkey tails, sizzle in another. Customers wait with small coins in hand. Within minutes, they walk away with a paper or plastic bag of golden yam, a dollop of blended pepper and, for those who want it, a piece of chofi. Fried yam is one of Accra’s simplest and most loved evening foods.
Yam, pepper and chofi
Ghana is one of the world’s largest yam producers. For frying, vendors peel and cut the yam into chunks, sometimes boiling it briefly before frying to soften the inside. The fried yam is usually served with a fresh pepper sauce made from ground chillies, onions, tomatoes and sometimes ginger. Many customers judge a vendor by the strength of their pepper.
Chofi, fried turkey tail, is a popular partner. It is fatty and crispy, and its popularity has raised health concerns about the amount of fat it contains.
Other partners, price and hygiene
Vendors may also sell fried fish, sausages or kosua ne meko, boiled eggs with pepper, alongside the yam. Many stands also fry ripe plantain, sweet potato and cocoyam, giving customers a choice. Fried yam stands are busiest in the evening, when people are returning from work and looking for a quick bite. Portions can be bought in small amounts, making it an affordable snack or meal.
Deep-fried foods are high in fat, so nutritionists advise eating them in moderation. Look for vendors who use clean oil, cover their food and handle money and food separately.
Home, memories and yam season
Fried yam is easy to make at home, and many families prepare it on weekends. Many Ghanaians abroad remember fried yam and pepper as a taste of evenings at home. Ghanaian health officials and nutritionists have warned about the high fat content of turkey tails, and the product has been the subject of debate about imports and health.
New yam arrives in markets after the harvest, and prices fall. Accra has fancy restaurants and fast-food chains. At dusk, many people still walk past both to stand in line for a bag of fried yam and pepper.
