Oto is a traditional yam or plantain puree enriched with palm oil. It is a simple dish made from mashed plantain or yam served with boiled egg or sliced avocado.
This dish is very common among the Akan and Ga people. It is usually prepared and served during traditional festive occasions. Oto is sometimes considered as a sacred food for the gods and ancestral spirits.
Oto is sometimes served to the bride during wedding ceremonies and birthdays. It is very easy and simple to prepare as compared to other local and traditional dishes.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Yam
- Palm oil
- onion
- Salt
- Dried powdered shrimp
How To Prepare Oto
- First, you peel, cut into small cubes and wash the yam.
- Add the yam to a pot of water and add a little salt and allow to boil for 20 minutes.
- Remove the cooked yam from the fire and drain the water.
- Transfer the cooked yam into a mortar and pound with a pestle.
- Heat the palm oil in a saucepan and add your sliced onions.
- Fry the onion in the oil until it turns golden brown.
- Use a slotted spoon to strain onions out and discard.
- Cut remaining onions into small dice and add to the oil.
- Stir continuously until onions are well cooked and caramelized.
- Add the powdered shrimp to the oil and stir for some time.
- Add the oil and onion to the mashed yam and mix.
- Add salt to it and mix thoroughly.
- Your delicious oto dish is ready to be served and enjoyed.
How To Serve Oto
Oto is usually served on a plate or bowl with a hard-boiled egg or avocado pear. It can also be eaten with a spoon, but it is best enjoyed when you eat with your hand as that is the traditional way of eating oto.
Kwarteng Seth