Akara

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1

   Pick over the black-eyed peas and rinse them well. If using unskinned peas, rub them between your hands in plenty of water to loosen as many skins as possible, then pour off the skins. Drain thoroughly. This step helps the akara fry up lighter and smoother.

2. 2

   Put the black-eyed peas, onion, scotch bonnet chili, salt, and water into a blender. Blend until very smooth and thick, stopping to scrape down as needed. The batter should be airy but still able to hold its shape on a spoon; if it seems too stiff to blend, add just a splash more water, but keep it as thick as possible.

3. 3

   Beat the batter vigorously with a spoon or whisk for 2 to 3 minutes until it looks slightly fluffy and lighter in color. Incorporating air is a classic technique that makes the fritters puff instead of turning dense.

4. 4

   Heat the neutral oil in a small deep saucepan over medium heat to about 175-180 C. To test without a thermometer, drop in a little batter: it should rise steadily to the surface and bubble actively without burning too fast.

5. 5

   Using two spoons or a small scoop, carefully drop heaped spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil without crowding the pan. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally, until the akara are deep golden brown and cooked through. The center should feel springy, not wet or heavy.

6. 6

   Lift out the fritters with a slotted spoon and drain briefly. Fry the remaining batter in batches, allowing the oil to return to temperature between batches so the akara stay crisp rather than greasy.

7. 7

   Serve hot, while the outside is crisp and the inside is soft and fluffy. Akara are excellent on their own or with bread, pap, or a simple pepper sauce.

Nutrition per serving

Notes

• •If you can only find whole dried black-eyed peas, using a food processor or blender to help remove skins speeds things up, but a few skins left behind are fine for a home-style result.
• •A small onion gives sweetness and moisture; too much onion can make the batter loose and cause spluttering during frying.
• •Do not overcrowd the pan, or the oil temperature will drop and the fritters will absorb excess oil.
• •For a beginner-friendly shortcut within 30 minutes, use pre-skinned black-eyed peas or black-eyed pea flour if available.

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