I’ve been camping out with a friend along the Colorado River backwaters on the Arizona/California border for the past two weeks and we have had a campfire every night. The other evening, on a whim, I decided to try cooking two yams over the campfire. I wrapped them each in aluminum foil and laid them directly atop some hot coals in our mature campfire. I used a set of tongs to turn them frequently as we chatted for about an hour. When I went in for the night, I brought them in with me. The next morning, I opened one up and found a perfectly cooked yam inside. It was, by far, the most delicious yam I’ve ever eaten.
I managed to repeat that performance with three yams last night. Since last night might be my last campfire for a while — we’re back on the move later today — I figured I’d stock up. I already had one for my breakfast this morning! The skin peels right off. I bet it would taste amazing spread in a toasted bagel.
Most of my attempts to do this sort of slow outdoors cooking turn to charcoal but that second photo makes them look yummy.
You timed it just right.
I can’t believe I got it right twice in a row! I think the key is burning a good, hard wood — we used a combination that included mesquite — and letting it burn until there are a lot of good, hot coals. I laid the aluminum-wrapped potatoes right on the coals while the fire was still burning right beside them. And then I turned the potatoes at least once every five minutes, trying to get all sides exposed to the heat.
I ate the second one last night with dinner. It was great cold. But I keep thinking of a good, New York style, salt bagel with yam spread on it. Unfortunately, I’m at least 2500 miles from the nearest New York bagel store.