Yam
Yams are starchy underground tubers that are boiled, fried, roasted, or incorporated into stews and other dishes.

About Yam
Yam is the edible underground storage organ of several cultivated yam plants, sold as whole roots or cut pieces. It is boiled, steamed, roasted, fried, pounded, mashed, or added to soups and stews.
Depending on the type, the skin may be brown, gray, or near-black, while the flesh ranges from white or cream to yellow or purple. Cooked flesh is generally starchy and firm, but may be dry, moist, or mucilaginous.
Yams are sold fresh, peeled, cut, frozen, or otherwise prepared. Peeling changes the visible appearance, while boiling, roasting, frying, pounding, and mashing alter firmness and texture. The English word is used inconsistently in commerce and can refer to different tubers.
- Ingredient type
- whole food
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Where will you meet it?
Explore the dishes that use this ingredient and their country and cuisine connections.
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Find local names and written forms to help recognise this ingredient.
See local namesWhere yam appears
39 linked foodsFind foods to recognise by country and type. Recipes and products vary; these are recorded ingredient connections.
Showing 25–36 of 39
Sides
Snacks
Desserts
Soups
Bouyon
Optional additionMannish Water
Optional additionRondón
Optional additionSancocho de Gallina
Optional additionIngredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.
Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.
Local names for yam
Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.
山芋
yamaimo
山药
shānyào
Yam
yam
igname
ñame
inhame
Yamswurzel
yam
igname
ignam
ямс
yams
ямс
yams
γιαμ
giam
yam
yam
रतालू
ratalū
uwi
ubi
ヤムイモ
yamuimo
山药
shānyào
giam
Romanised form
yamuimo
Romanised form
Igname cousse-couche, pulpe, cuit à la vapeur, prélevé à la Martinique
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Igname jaune, pulpe, cuit à la vapeur, prélevé à la Martinique
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Igname saint martin, pulpe, cuit à la vapeur, prélevé à la Martinique
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Igname, crue
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Igname, épluchée, bouillie/cuite à l'eau
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Igname, pelée, crue
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
yam (raw)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam, baked
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam, cooked, boiled, drained, or baked, with salt
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam, cooked, boiled, drained, or baked, without salt
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam, flesh only, boiled in unsalted water
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam, flesh only, raw
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam, steamed
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam, wild harvested, cooked
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam(Ma), Long type, Boiled
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam(Ma), Long type, Raw
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam(Ma), Raw
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Yam(Ma), Round type, Raw
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
yams
Romanised form
shānyào
Romanised form
ratalū
Romanised form
yams
Romanised form
Name Yam
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.
Name not available yet.
A name in English has not been added for yam. Choose another language to see its available names.
Yam nutrition & diet
Yam nutritional value
Yam, raw
Per 100 g of the edible portion in the recorded food form.
- Calories
- 118kcal
- Protein
- 1.5g
- Carbs
- 27.9g
- Fat
- 0.2g
Reference values for the specific food form shown. Other varieties, brands and preparations can differ.
Portions & preparation
Identify the yam species and use the peeled or unpeeled edible tuber form specified by the reference, since local varieties differ. Compare raw and cooked portions carefully. Boiling, roasting, frying, mashing, and incorporation into stews change water content, added fat, and the practical serving composition.
Compare the right form: Match a reference to the identified yam species and edible tuber portion, specifying raw, boiled, roasted, fried, mashed, or stewed form.
Diet considerations
Yam is a plant tuber, but the common name covers multiple species and local varieties, so identity matters. Plain yam suits plant-based patterns; compatibility changes with butter, dairy, meat stock, egg, or frying fat. Flour coatings and mixed dishes add cereal ingredients, while portion size shapes the meal’s carbohydrate pattern.
AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.
Dietary compatibility
- VeganTypically compatible
- VegetarianTypically compatible
- PescatarianTypically compatible
- KetoDepends on the version
- PaleoTypically compatible
- Low-carbDepends on the version
- HalalNot established
- KosherNot established
What these diet assessments mean
- Vegan · Typically compatible
- The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
- Vegetarian · Typically compatible
- The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
- Pescatarian · Typically compatible
- The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
- Keto · Depends on the version
- Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
- Paleo · Typically compatible
- The plain form fits the conventional paleo food groups. Added ingredients and individual interpretations can differ.
- Low-carb · Depends on the version
- Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
- Halal · Not established
- Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
- Kosher · Not established
- Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.
For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.
AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.
Sources & review
Nutrition reference: USDA FoodData Central — Yam, raw ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.
Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.
The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.
Last recorded verification: .