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Akara recipe (How to make fluffy Akara Balls)

Chichi Uguru
Akara is a delicious and easy-to-make place based African food that is made from black-eyed peas, peppers, onions, and spices. Akara balls also called black eyed peas fritters in English are light and fluffy on the inside with a slightly crispy exterior.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Soaking Time 2 hours
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Nigerian, West African
Servings 6 -8
Calories 180kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Dry uncooked Black eyed peas (cleaned, peeled and soaked for 1 -2hrs)
  • 1 habanero pepper
  • 1 large onion (cut up for blending)
  • 1 teaspoon Salt or bouillon (More to taste)
  • ¾ cup of water
  • 3 cups Canola Oil ( for deep frying )

Instructions

  • Using a tray, sift through the beans to remove any dirt. Rinse beans in water then start rubbing them in between your palms to remove the skin. (See note 5 on how to do this with a blender ) When the skin is peeled and all that skins drained off, soak the beans for 1 to 2 hours.
  • Transfer the soaked beans into the blender, add the onion, pepper and 3/4 cup of water and blend till smooth.
  • Scoop batter into the 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 note 4 below 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, make a burger or sandwich with bread, enjoy with Garri or on its own. You will find detailed pairings in the blog post.

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 for the Akara. The oil needs to be hot enough or else the akara would absorb too much oil.
  5. Work in small quantities, a cup at a time. Transfer washed beans to the cup of the blender, add water about 4 inches above the beans. Use the pulse button to pulse 3 to 5 times.
    Transfer the pulsed beans to a large bowl, then repeat the process for the rest of the beans.
    Then add more water to the beans in the bowl, decant to remove the peeled skin (chaff). Rinse and repeat till all the skin has been decanted.
 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Akara recipe (How to make fluffy Akara Balls)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 180 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 0.2g1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g
Sodium 339mg15%
Potassium 446mg13%
Carbohydrates 33g11%
Fiber 10g42%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 36IU1%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 41mg4%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.