Akara Recipe- (Black Eyed Pea Fritters)

[Guest guest]

A few years back we had friends from Africa visit and she made these for us. I

loved them but had lost the recipe until now. I made these last night and they

were delicious!

 

Some people let the beans soak all day long, but if you soak them in boiled hot

water for about an hour, the skins will pop right off.

 

Ingredients:

*two to three cups dried cowpeas (black-eyed peas) or similar

*one onion, finely chopped

*one-half teaspoon salt

*hot chile pepper, and/or sweet green pepper or sweet red pepper, finely chopped

(to taste)

*one-half teaspoon fresh ginger root, peeled and minced (or a few pinches of

powdered ginger)

* 3 garlic cloves

* 1 1/2 teaspoon of Season Salt (optional)

*vegetable oil for frying

* 1 tsp baking powder (optional)

 

Directions:

*Clean the black-eyed peas in running water.

*Soak them in boiled hot water for at least a few hours or overnight.

*After soaking them, rub them together between your hands to remove the skins.

*Rinse to wash away the skins and any other debris.

*Drain them in a colander.

*Place black-eyed peas in a blender and pulse into into a thick paste.

*Add enough water to form a smooth, thick paste of a batter that will cling to a

spoon.

*Add all other ingredients (except oil and baking powder).

*Some people allow the batter to stand for a few hours or overnight in the

refrigerator; doing so improves the flavor.

*Heat oil in a deep skillet.

*Add Baking Powder to batter at this time(optional)

*Beat the batter with a wire whisk or wooden spoon for a few minutes. *Make

fritters by scooping up a spoon full of batter and using another spoon to

quickly push it into the hot oil.

*Deep fry the fritters until they are golden brown.

*Turn them frequently while frying. (If the fritters fall apart in the oil, add

some cornmeal or crushed breadcrumbs.)

*Serve with Hot Sauce or salt, as a snack, an appetizer, or a side dish.

* If you have some Peli-Peli on hand, this will set it off! Yummo!

 

The Baking Powder helps to puff the fritters more during cooking but they cook

up fine without it.