Akara

African bean fritters in a checkered plate.

No ratings yet

Savor every bite of this tasty Akara (Nigerian Bean Fritters). It is perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It's made with peeled beans, onion, sweet red bell peppers, scotch bonnets and seasoning. Serve as a side with eko, ogi or agege bread.

Prep Time2 10

Cook Time20

Total Time2 30

Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Side Dish

Cuisine: Nigerian

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 178kcal

Author: Jen Sim

Equipment

Blender
Pan

Ingredients

2 cups of peeled black eyed beans
1-2 scotch bonnets
1 onion
1 red bell peppers
1 Knorr chicken cube or Maggi
Salt to taste

Instructions

Soak the peeled beans in water for 2 hours, or follow the instructions on the packaging. The water should be two inches above the beans.
Drain the water and add the soaked beans to a blender along with scotch bonnets and an onion.
Add 3-5 tablespoon of water and blend until a thick paste forms. Make sure the akara batter is thick and not watery. Add just enough water to mix.
Pour the batter into a bowl. Then season with Knorr chicken seasoning and salt to taste, and whisk with a hand mixer for two minutes or until fluffy.
Add oil to a pot or deep pan. Make sure there is enough oil for the akara to float. Heat the oil on medium heat, then scoop the akara batter into the oil and cook on both sides for 5-7 minutes or until golden. Do not over-crowd the pot.
Once the akara is done, place it on a plate with paper towels to soak up excess oil.
Serve akara with pap or agege bread for breakfast.

Notes

- Add-ins: Feel free to add ground crayfish or a small amount of tomato purée to the akara batter to enhance the taste and give the Akara a richer flavor.

- Akara Batter: The akara batter should have the right consistency to ensure it holds its shape when frying.

- Seasoning: Taste the akara batter before frying and adjust the seasoning as needed. You may want to add more salt or a seasoning cube (such as Maggi) to suit your taste.

Nutrition