This Delicious Coco Yam Recipe Will Take Your Tastebuds on a Cultural Journey

Food is such an important (and enjoyable!) part of travel, and trying local dishes is a great way to literally get a taste of a different culture. Luckily, with the overflow of local restaurants and tutorials for at-home recipes, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home to experience a cultural spark to your tastebuds.

If you’ve always wanted to visit Nepal, have fond memories of a visit there, or could just use a new vegetarian dish to add to your repertoire, get ready to recreate the coco yam recipe @amilo.piro.stories just posted on Instagram. Made in honor of her grandfather, who passed away recently, this recipe is as special as it is delicious. 

Coco yam — or pidalu, as it’s called in Nepal — is a root vegetable you can buy at Asian grocery stores. According to @amilo.piro.stories, it’s “hella starchy, like potatoes” and her grandpa loved it, but wasn’t supposed to eat it because of his diabetes. She shares a beautiful memory of him as she lovingly makes his favorite dish, using simple ingredients like tomatoes, onions, and garlic, and adding pickled bamboo shoots for extra flavor. You can almost smell the rich, colorful mixture as it cooks. And you can definitely feel the love.

Check out the full recipe here, complete the meal with rice and greens, and raise a glass to those who inspired this delicious dish.