Akara

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Akara

It is also known as black-eyed peas fritters, beans fritters, or Acaraje, it is a deep-fried black-eyed peas paste bean cake.

Nothing beats a platter of old-fashioned Akara served with a bowl of pap (akamu – fermented corn pudding) or tucked into a freshly baked bread loaf on a Saturday morning.

They’re also great as an evening snack, an appetizer, or a simple, comfortable nibble.

The Origin

Though it is thought to have originated with the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, it has made its way to the hearts of people all over West Africa and beyond.

Facts About Akara

• Akàrà is a type of fritter made from cowpeas or beans. In Hausa, it is called kosai, in Portuguese, Acarajé. It’s a common cuisine in West African, Caribbean, and Brazilian cuisines.
• Bean buns could pass as the most suitable English name for akara.
• Acarajé is used as both a sacred tribute to the gods and as street food in the Candomblé religion.
• Enslaved people from West Africa transported the dish to Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Mali, Gambia, Burkina Faso, and Sierra Leone, where it can still be found in various varieties.

Preparing Akara

There are several varieties, but the Nigerian Akara is usually made with peeled blended beans and spices and then deep fried in vegetable oil. Palm oil can also be used for deep frying.

The following is how to prepare for frying the beans paste;

• Before you make it, you must first remove the beans coat.
• Always use fresh peeled beans, and don’t let salt come into contact with the beans you’ll be using in making it until you’re ready to fry it.
• Soak the beans in water for 2 hours to soften them up sufficiently for your blender; if you’re using a grinding mill, you won’t need to soak the beans for as long.
• Cut the pepper and onion into small pieces.

Tips:

• Soak peeled beans in water for up to 6 hours before blending. This make blending easier plus it gives fluffier akara.
• A little salt goes a long way while preparing this dish, so be careful.
• It’s very important to be mindful of the texture of the batter. Try to not blend too smooth, otherwise, it will not form enough tiny air pockets which will result in dense Akara.
• To combine the Beans, only a small amount of water is required; any more water will result in flat, unpleasantly soft Akara balls.
• It’s also important to be careful of the quantity of water that is used to blend the beans. Too much water will result in a thin batter and this will cause the Akara to crumble inside the oil during the frying process.
• Don’t skip the whisking part, it is very important to incorporate air in the batter as much as possible before frying. This will help yield a light Akara.
• If you don’t have a whisk, you can beat the batter with a wooden spoon and get the same outcome. It’s fine to use a mortar and pestle if you want to go the conventional route.
• If it is well-made, it should be light, airy, soft, and rounded. When the it seems flat, this indicates that not enough air has been added to the batter. That is why whisking the batter for a few minutes before cooking it is essential.
• Depending on the scoop you use, two cups of dry black-eyed peas provide between 4 to 12 cups of peeled beans, and this quantity yields about 20 (a little more or less) pieces of Akara balls.

How To Serve Akara

There are several methods to serve Akara

• Serve with pap, oatmeal, or custard as a side dish.
• Serve with a salad bowl.
• Dip into a hot sauce.
• Simply eat as is.
• Akara burger: Put the Akara between two slices of tiny bread and eat it like a sandwich. It’s known as an African burger.

Why Is My Akara Flat?

If the batter is too watery, the akara will come out flat and in some cases not hold up in oil. That’s why it’s important to blend with as little water as possible.

HOW TO STORE

To store leftover, allow to cool completely then put in ziploc , label and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat, microwave on high for 30 seconds or 1 minute if from the fridge. Frozen will take few minutes longer.

If you have enjoyed and tried this easy recipe, don’t forget to leave feedback.