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Home » 30 minutes meals » Akara balls : African Black Eyed Peas fritters

Akara balls : African Black Eyed Peas fritters

Published: May 30, 2018 . by Chichi Uguru . This post may contain affiliate links.

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These light and fluffy Akara balls; African Black Eyed peas fritters are delicious an easy to make. Don't let the process deter you from making this delightful African Saturday morning breakfast.

Akara Balls; African black eyed peas fritters

Akara and Akamu is a typical weekend breakfast in Nigeria. It's either a Saturday morning breakfast or a Sunday one. Most Nigerian homes can testify to this. Besides a yummy breakfast at home you can have this yummy breakfast on the road side if you desire since it is a very popular Nigerian street food as popular as puff puff.

Table of Contents

  • 1 What is Akara?
  • 2 How we used to make Akara
  • 3 These days, this is how we roll
  • 4 Watch how to make Akara Balls
  • 5 How to make fluffy Akara Balls

What is Akara?

Akara is a deep fried food made from puréed beans. It is usually made with 4 ingredients; beans, salt pepper and onions. It is similar to moi moi since puréed beans is the base but moi moi is either steamed or baked and has a lot more ingredients and they definitely taste different. Both dishes taste delicious and are enjoyed with Pap, bread or garri.

Akara is called akla or koose by Ghanaians. It is also found in Brazilian cuisine brought to Brazil by the West African Slaves. Brazilians call it acaraje.

[bctt tweet="Follow these easy steps and get your most amazing Akara yet" username="mydiasporakitch"]

While I was growing up, making Akara was a long process, but thank God with the kitchen gadgets and expertise it's a lot less of an arduous task. Let me give you a little preview of what it was like to make Akara back in the day.

How we used to make Akara

  1. Pick the dirt from beans
  2. Peel the beans by washing by hand
  3. Take it to the mill to be blended or blfbd at home if you have a powerful blender. (blending beans at home sent many blenders to an early grave)
  4. Transfer beans purée to a mortar, stir and stir with a pestle then fry ?. This process usually takes like forever from start to finish.

Akara Balls; African black eyed peas fritters

These days, this is how we roll

  1. Pick dirt from beans even if the brand you have has been precleaned it doesn't hurt to double check?
  2. Peel the beans with a blender alternatively you can use beans powder pre peeled beans sold in the store.
  3. Soak peeled beans overnight or for 2 hrs
  4. Blend then Transfer to a stand mixer or use s hand mixer. Beat with the whisk for about 5 mins with a stand mixer and about 8 mins with a hand mixer.
  5. Fry

Phew 😅 I wanted to share with you what it was like back in the day so you would appreciate our modern day Akara. But if you never made Akara the old fashioned way you may not appreciate the difference because the steps seem similar but DO NOT be deceived you need a lot more elbow grease in the former.

One step you must not skip is the whisking step. It incorporates air into the batter.

Akara Balls; African black eyed peas frittersAkara Balls; African black eyed peas fritters

I am glad that you read this post way up to this point. If you found it helpful, Kindly Share with your family and friends. Follow @mydiasporakitchen on INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST. Did you know  you could pin this yummy fluffy Akara recipe for later. While you are there you can check out my other yummy recipes since you love good food, I promise you would love them.

Where were we? Oh yes how to make this amazing fluffy Akara balls. Let's get started.

Love,

PS: Remember to subscribe to our weekly Newsletter, so you never miss a recipe ❤

Pin for later

 

Watch how to make Akara Balls

https://youtu.be/l1W5_vdEyfs

Akara balls; African black eyed peas fritters

How to make fluffy Akara Balls

Chichi Uguru
These light and fluffy Akara balls; African Beans fritters are delicious an easy to make. Don't let the process deter you from making this delightful African Saturday morning breakfast
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Soaking Time 2 hrs
Total Time 25 mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Nigerian, West African
Servings 7
Calories 180 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Black eyed peas or honey beans (cleaned, peeled and soaked for 1 -2hrs)
  • 1 habanero pepper
  • 1 large onion (cut up for blending)
  • Salt or bouillon powder to taste.
  • ¾ cup of water
  • 3 cups cooking Oil ( for deep frying )

Instructions
 

  • Transfer the soaked beans into the blender, add the onion, pepper and ¾ cup of water.
  • Blend till smooth
  • Transfer the batter to a bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attached.
  • Add salt then Whisk the batter for about 6 mins to incorporate air into the mixture.
  • While you are whisking the batter, heat up the oil for frying.
  • When the oil is hot, scoop the batter into the oil with your hand be careful not to let your fingers touch the hot oil. ( see notes for how to know if the oil is hot enough) Alternatively you can scoop the batter quarter cup by quarter cup. Do not crowd the pan.
  • Fry till golden brown. Remember to flip the Akara to the other side so that the Akara balls brown evenly.
  • Transfer to a frying basket lined with kitchen paper towel to absorb any excess oil.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Serving Suggestions:

  • Serve Akara with pap
  • Serve with bread as a burger
  • Serve with garri
  • You can enjoy Akara on its own too

Notes

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER
 
  1. Soaking the beans softens it and makes it easier for your blender For best results, you need to use a powerful blender.
  2. DO NOT SKIP THE WHISKING STAGE.
  3. If you don't have a  stand mixer you can use a hand mixer or a whisk. You can also stir batter in a circular motion continuously with a spatular.
  4. Oil temp test; put a slice onion in the oil if it bubbles and comes up immediately, then the oil is ready to fry the Akara. The oil needs to be hot enough or else the akara would absorb too much oil.
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 180kcal
Keyword akara, bean fritters, black eyed peas
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Eve Cole

    October 06, 2020 at 9:30 pm

    Can I use pre peeled black eye peas? If so do I soak them?

    Reply
    • Chichi Uguru

      October 07, 2020 at 7:11 am

      Hi Eve,
      Yes you can. Soak them for at least 2 hours for best results.
      - Chichi

      Reply
  2. Insaf Sulaiman

    May 01, 2020 at 3:23 pm

    Hi,

    Great recipe. Do I soak the beans in cold water or boil them?

    Reply
    • Chichi Uguru

      May 01, 2020 at 3:25 pm

      Thank you Insaf,
      You soak the washed beans. Please watch video for guidance. Drop me a comment of you have more questions.
      -Chichi

      Reply
    • Maryam

      November 22, 2020 at 3:13 am

      Hi Insaf,

      You soak the beans in cold water, place in fridge if it's a hot day as beans goes off quickly when exposed to heat.

      Reply
  3. Joel

    January 24, 2020 at 11:53 pm

    I need someone in Enugu who knows how to prepare Akara

    Reply
    • Chichi Uguru

      January 25, 2020 at 4:22 pm

      Hi Joel,

      With the video to guide you, you can make it yourself 👍

      - Chichi

      Reply
  4. Amy | The Cook Report

    June 01, 2018 at 3:36 am

    5 stars
    I love fritters and these ones sound so good!

    Reply
    • Chichi Uguru

      June 01, 2018 at 4:58 am

      They are simply yet delicious ?. Thanks Amy

      Reply
  5. Sally - My Custard Pie

    June 01, 2018 at 3:06 am

    5 stars
    Really interesting to learn more about Nigerian food. I didn't know these were a breakfast food - they're vegan too so would suit my daughters.

    Reply
    • Chichi Uguru

      June 01, 2018 at 5:00 am

      Yes they are vegan. Hope your daughters would love them. Welcome to Nigerian cuisine ?. Thanks Sally

      Reply
  6. Shashi at SavorySpin

    June 01, 2018 at 1:20 am

    5 stars
    I haven't ever had Akara and Akamu - they sound delicious - they kinda remind me of a Sri Lankan fried treat we used to enjoy when I was younger - it, too, was made with beans!

    Reply
    • Chichi Uguru

      June 01, 2018 at 5:02 am

      Wow. Would be nice to learn about your Sri Lankan dish. Thanks for stopping by Shashi and hope you get to try Akara and Akamu some day soon

      Reply
  7. Marie

    May 31, 2018 at 11:34 pm

    5 stars
    This is a new to me recipe! It looks and sounds delicious! Love how golden brown, light, and fluffy these fritters are. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Chichi Uguru

      June 01, 2018 at 12:05 am

      You are welcome Marie. Thanks ?

      Reply
    • Yoli

      July 04, 2020 at 4:40 am

      5 stars
      Blender name please? Need a good one.

      Reply
      • Chichi Uguru

        July 04, 2020 at 8:56 am

        I used this Ninja blender- https://amzn.to/2AuPlK7 for this recipe

        Reply
      • Chichi Uguru

        July 04, 2020 at 9:02 am

        If this is within your price range, blendtec https://amzn.to/2YVTe4a Kitchen aid https://amzn.to/2YYbFoR and Vitamix https://amzn.to/31QEvcm are great options

        Reply
  8. Savita

    May 31, 2018 at 11:19 pm

    5 stars
    Blackeyed peas are my favorite legume and I often use it in cooking.. Pea Fritters sounds so delicious. I'm glad you used fresh peas and cooked'em. High Five!

    Reply
    • Chichi Uguru

      May 31, 2018 at 11:29 pm

      Thanks Savita ?

      Reply

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