How to Make Yam Delight

Many people think of yams only as a winter holiday tradition. Many people consider baked yams as a delivery system for melted marshmallow topping, or maybe as the brilliant orange interior of sweet potato pie. Many people are rather limited in their views of the yam.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 8-10 yams and/or sweet potatoes (orange, yellow and/or white)
• 3-5 apples
• 3-5 pears
• 2-4 ripe Fuyu persimmons (or 1 ripe Hachiya persimmon)
• 1/4 cup raisins, chopped dates, and/or other chopped dried fruit
• cinnamon (1/4 tsp to 1 Tbl)
• ground ginger, nutmeg and/or clove (to taste)
• 1-2 Tbl fruit juice (non-citrus)
• 1 Tbl honey (optional)

1. Cut the fruit into small pieces that will cook easily. Removing the skin is optional.

2. Add the fruit juice and start cooking the fruit at a low heat. A crock-pot would be ideal, although an iron kettle over a low flame works, too.

3. Peel the yams, cut into 2- or 3-inch lengths, and arrange in a deep baking dish with just a few tablespoons of water to keep them from sticking.

4. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 60 minutes at 350 degrees. Test the yams with a fork. If it doesn't sink in easily, give them another few minutes.

5. Mix the baked yams and cooked fruit in a large iron pot. Again, the crock-pot would be better if everything fits.

6. Stir with a big spoon. If the mixture is too chunky, give it a few plunges with a potato masher.

7. Add the dried fruit and spices as you stir. Stir them in well. The dried fruit might burn if it settles to the bottom.

8. Continue cooking on a low heat for 1-8 hours. Stir occasionally. (Another reason why that crock-pot will come in handy.)

9. This recipe yields a banquet-sized quantity of Yam Delight. It also refrigerates well. Serve hot, warm or cold for any meal, as entree or dessert.

Tips & Warnings

• Skinning the fruit will give your Yam Delight a creamier texture. Leaving the fruit skins will provide bits of color and a little crunch.
• If you include a ripe Hachiya persimmon, the fruit juice may not be necessary.
• Go easy on the ground ginger, nutmeg and/or clove. It doesn't take much.
• Honey should be added only if 1) the mixture still seems dry after cooking for a while, or 2) the mix of yam and fruit flavors doesn't seem sweet enough. But remember, Yam Delight is a vegan dish until you add the honey.
• While this flexible recipe can accommodate ingredients like sweet summer melon or sweet winter squash, avoid acidic or astringent flavors. This includes citrus, pineapple or unripe Hachiya persimmon. Blander flavors, such as less-than-sweet squash, parsnip or jicama, may dilute the delightfulness.