Nigerian bean cakes/bean fritters are a family best especially on Saturday mornings. Akara balls are made up of blended honey beans mixed with peppers and aromatics, fried to perfection.

You are yet to complete your foodie bucket list if you missed adding this nutritious and tasty bean fritter recipe called akara by people of West Africa and acarajé in Brazil. Akara is made out of peeled, blended beans and other ingredients.

You know how different cultures have foods that families come together to enjoy on specific days of the week or year, akara was a staple in many households on Saturday mornings growing up. We would all gather together enjoying akara alongside a creamy bowl of custard or cornmeal (pap).

Akara Recipe

Successfully preparing Akara does require a few tips which I will be sharing in full in this article. The type of beans used in making it is called honey beans which have a distinctly sweet taste compared to other types of beans.

The beans are peeled either by hand or using the pulse button on your blender.

I have seen recipes that have skipped the peeling step and I tried it, however, the Akara balls ended up very dense in texture compared to the ones I am used to taking. 

In the absence of honey beans, other legumes can be used such as lentils or black-eyed peas, however, I cannot guarantee it will yield the same taste as the honey beans. The peeled ones (frozen) should be easy to source at your local African store.

The peeled beans are blended with peppers, onions, eggs, and seasonings till smooth. It is important to mind the amount of water added when blending as you need the batter to be thick.

The blending process helps to incorporate air into the mix and gives it that soft and airy texture. The batter is then scooped in equal portions using a spoon and deep fried in oil. For this recipe, I added some flaky salmon to my batter, this can be substituted for any other light protein such as dry ground shrimp or simply prepared plain.

Any attempt to add protein in big chunks (like chicken) will prevent the batter from holding together in the hot oil. Akara is traditionally taken with some pap or custard, but if you want to amplify your experience, have it with some creamy oatmeal or warm buttery brioche.

What are the Ingredients for Akara?

Here are the ingredients used in making Akara:

1. 1 1/2 cup of honey beans peeled and rinsed

2. 1 crimson pepper/red bell pepper deseeded

3. 1 scotch bonnet optional

4. 1/2 large white onion/1 small white onion

5. 2 eggs

6. salt to taste

7. 1 bouillon cube

8. flaked tuna or salmon

9. 4-6 Tbsp of water

10. vegetable oil for deep frying