I’m going to show you how to make Nigerian Akara: Three ways (Beans Cake or beans Fritters). Nigerian Akara is commonly eaten as a breakfast, dinner, or as a snack, it can be eaten with pap, bread, custard, or by itself. When making Akara you need to make it light and incorporate air into it, it is very important. It can be made soft or crunchy it depends on your preference. I remember a woman that used to sell Akara down our street as a kid, she always made hers very light and soft.
Akara is commonly eaten in Africa and each country has a name for it. My tribe (Yoruba) in Nigeria calls it Akara, while another tribe (Hausa) calls it Kosai. In Ghana and Sierra Leone, it is called Koose. There’s another type of Akara that is prepared with palm oil and they are crunchy outside and soft inside. It is called Akara Osu and they are delicious as the one made with vegetable oil. This Nigerian Akara: Three ways (Beans Cake or beans Fritters) recipe shows you how to make Akara without the fear of too much intake, you can make it in a waffle or sandwich maker, the process is shown below. To make Akara you’ll need to peel beans, I have the process on the blog; How to Peel Beans with a Blender
You might want to try;
How to Peel Beans with a Blender
Moimoi Rollup (Baked Beans Pudding Roulade)
- 2 Pounds Peeled Black Eyed Peas Beans
- 2 Onion (Divided)
- 1 Egg (optional)
- Seasoning cube (optional)
- 1 Habanero/Rodo
- 1/2 Red bell pepper (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon Ground Crayfish (optional)
- 2 Green onion (optional)
- Oil for frying
-
Peel the beans (I will put the link to how you can peel beans easily).
-
I usually peel and soak my beans the night before the day I will use it, but it is okay to peel and soak for a few hours, this will soften the beans and blends easily.
-
Rinse the peel beans and blend (with no water or as little as possible), when it almost smooth add 1/2 onion, habanero, and red bell pepper and continue to blend. If you use too much water it won't hold together when frying.
-
Pour into a bowl and add egg, crayfish, salt, and seasoning cube (if you're using it). Mix in a circular form to incorporate air into the mixture or you a mixer. TIP: Put water in a small cup/bowl drop like a peas size mixture into water, if it floats it is ready to be used.
-
Add the remaining onion (chopped), and green onions, and continue to mix, (if you don't like too much onion, you can adjust it to your preference, hubby loves a lot of onions in Akara, you can notice it on the outside of the Akara). Place a frying pan or skillet/pan and add enough oil to fry into the pan. Let it get hot to about 350 degrees F. TIP: You can drop a small batter to test the hotness of the oil. If it's too hot immediately you drop the mixture it will turn dark and it won't cook inside.
-
Use a spoon to scoop the mixture into the oil, flip halfway through and fry until both sides are golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. While the batter is frying continue to mix the remaining mixture. When it's done remove from the oil and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
-
Continue to fry until you exhaust all the mixture.
-
How To Make Akara in a Waffle Maker or Sandwich maker
-
Grease the waffle maker or sandwich maker with oil. Scoop the mixture and drizzle a little bit of oil over the batter.
-
Cook until it cooks through.
-
Cook the Akara waffles to your preference, if you want them soft or crunchy.
-
Do the same with the one in the sandwich maker, soft or crunchy, cook to your satisfaction.
-
You can enjoy them with pap, custard, bread, garri. Serve and enjoy.
Note:
You can make it in small or big size(your preference), just make sure they're almost the same in size because of the cooking/frying time.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Aliyahsrecipesandtips newsletter for free and receive the new post notifications right into your inbox.
If you try any of my recipes, please feel free to rate and leave your thought. Also, I will love to see what you come up with please tag me on social media @aliyah’s recipes #aliyahrecipes
Follow me on social media, just click on the links below:
I really love wat u did up der but ur picture8-9 is confusing I will appreciate if u throw more light thank u n Weldon this my first time hearing of this
Hello,
Number 8 picture shows akara batter in a sandwich/toaster maker.
Number 9 shows akara batter in a waffle maker.
I hope this helps!
Hello, please is akara waffle same as akara chips and secondly the method of making akara waffle is not too clear. Could you help explain in a simpler form. Thanks.
Hi Stella,
They’re different… if you want to make akara waffle you’re going to use the waffle maker grease with cooking oil or normal oil scoop the akara batter that you’ve mixed and seasoned before drizzle a little bit of oil on the batter inside the waffle maker then close the waffle maker. Cook until the akara is fully cooked, so you can check when the waffle maker green light is on to check cover if it’s not fully cooked and allow it to cook.
Hope this helps!
Yes thanks. But can you help with the recipe and method of making akara chips. The akara chips I saw in supermarkets are just like plantain chips and very crunchy and delicious. I would like to make some for my grandchildren to take to school as snacks. I really hope you can help. Thanks
Okay, I would work on it.
Thank you.
Please help teach me how to prepare akara chips
I would work on it and post it.
love
Thank you.
Type here.. I really appreciate your post on akara and I’ve learnt a new thing. But there is this akara chips that resembles long strips chin chin that’s reigning now. Could you please help me with the recipe here as the people that know it are not ready to teach me. Appreciation in anticipation ma.
Hello Tope,
Could you please send me a picture of it? So I can have an idea of what you’re asking for.
where do we send you the pic?
Hello Jane,
You can join my Facebook group and share with us.
Here’s the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/aliyahsrecipesfoodgroup/
Thank you!
Wow ✋hands up to you
Thank you, Hajara!
wow, i dont know that u can use ur toast machine to make Akara, chai i have learn ooo. will try it biko. weldo
Hmmmm! So beautiful and amazing job you are doing here.
This is my first time of visiting this page, and I am blown away already. Keep up the good work and don’t relent on your effort. – Dapo Adeleke.
Hello Dapo, Thanks for your kind words I do appreciate and thanks for stopping by. Hope you come back again?