Nigeria · Nigeria

Akara (Nigerian Black-Eyed Pea Fritters)

Name: Akara (Nigerian Black-Eyed Pea Fritters)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Nigeria
Ingredients: black-eyed peas, soaked and peeled 400 g; red onion, chopped 100 g; red bell pepper, chopped 80 g; scotch bonnet, minced 5 g; fresh ginger, grated 10 g; fine salt 5 g; vegetable oil 500 ml; tomato, diced 200 g; red onion, minced 50 g

Spiced black-eyed pea fritters fried crisp and golden, served with peppered tomato sauce.

35 minutes · 4 servings · Easy

Akara is the morning bean fritter sold wrapped in paper at roadside stalls before the city is awake. Black-eyed peas are soaked, blended with onion and pepper, and fried in scoops rather than shaped, which is why no two akara are the same size. Timing is the whole skill — outside crisp, inside soft and steamy — and overcooking makes them dense and bready.

Ingredients

black-eyed peas, soaked and peeled400 g
red onion, chopped100 g
red bell pepper, chopped80 g
scotch bonnet, minced5 g
fresh ginger, grated10 g
fine salt5 g
vegetable oil500 ml
tomato, diced200 g
red onion, minced50 g

Directions

1
Blend beans with onion, pepper, scotch bonnet, ginger and salt 1 minute to a coarse paste.
2
Drop tablespoon portions into 170°C oil 4 minutes until golden and crisp; drain.
Fritters are golden.
3
Mix tomato and onion for dipping.
4
Serve hot with sauce.

Source: WorldBite Editorial · WorldBite Proprietary Editorial Content