What is Yellow Yam? (And How to Cook It)

Welcome to yellow yams 101! This underrated tuber veggie deserves a place on everyone’s table at least twice a month. Find out how to cut it, how to cook it, and more!

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Yellow yams, just like plantains are common in Haitian and Jamaican recipes food recipes, are eaten almost daily. 

Yam vs Sweet Potato: What’s the Difference?

There’s a difference with these two vegetables. You will most likely find these common tuber vegetables at the local grocery stores including the red sweet potatoes and the white sweet potatoes, similar the ones used in this pain patate recipe. They also come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and even canned.  

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Most often, people who eats yams, do not realize they are eating yams and mistaken it as sweet potatoes. However, yellow yams are native to African, Caribbean, and Asian cuisine. Here are some of the differences and what to look out for when purchasing these veggies.  

• White or yellow yams have a bark-like skin.
• Yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yellow yams in particular has a hard-woody texture, whereas, sweet potatoes or white potatoes has a softer texture when touched. 
• Although they are root vegetables and comes from a flowering plant, their benefits are very different. 
• Sweet potato has a reddish-brown tone. Yams are entirely different and they are compared to yucca in texture and flavor.

Benefits

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Yellow yams are starchy and dry. These tuber vegetables are easily found at the international and specialty markets.

• The antioxidants found in yams may help reduce inflammation. They also contain potassium and manganese. 

• They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

They can be helpful in women’s health. In a 30-day study, 24 postmenopausal women switched from rice to eating yams in 2 out of 3 meals per day. By switching, their blood levels of estrone and estradiol increased by 26 percent.

How To Boil Yellow Yams

These starchy tuber vegetables are easy to cook. The full ingredients with exact measurements are found in the recipe card. In the meantime, below is a quick guide on how to boil yellow yams. 

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• Remove the skin. Use a paring knife to peel the skin of the yam. Then cut into medium size. 

• Bring the water to boil. Add the yam pieces. And cook for 30 minutes on medium high heat or until fork through. 

• Remove the yams from the boiling water. Serve hot with okra stew, protein sauce or salmon. 

HAITIAN FOOD TO TRY

Air Fryer Fried Plantains

Plantain Balls

Haitian Griot

Haitian Lalo

More Basic Vegetable Recipes

If you loved learning about yellow yams and how to cook it, try one of these basic vegetable recipes next:

Spaghetti squash

Sautéed bok choy

Instant pot cauliflower 

Soup joumou (Haitian squash soup)

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