Akara

Akara is a Nigerian street food made by deep-frying a batter of ground, peeled black-eyed peas. The beans are soaked, blended with water, and whipped extensively to create a light, fluffy texture before frying.

Akara originated with the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa. It was historically prepared as a religious offering to the gods before becoming a widely popular everyday street food.

Akara is most commonly eaten as a breakfast food, often stuffed inside soft bread rolls to make a sandwich. It is also traditionally served with ogi, a fermented cereal pudding made from corn or millet.

To flavor the bean batter, cooks typically blend in finely chopped onions, scotch bonnet peppers, and salt. Some regional variations also add crayfish or shrimp for extra umami flavor before deep-frying the mixture in palm or vegetable oil.