Akara or bean balls is an African speciality made of Black eyed peas. They are crunchy and are more like our Indian Kunukku's in taste.


The best part I like in this is that it does not absorb lot of oil and makes a wonderful snack esp on overcast days.

  • Cook time:
  • Prep time:
  • Serves: 6 people
Ingredients
  • 2 cups of black eyed peas
  • One onion,finely chopped
  • 2-3 green chillies,chopped into thin rounds (as per taste)
  • 1 tsp of ginger, grated
  • 1-2 tbsp of bread crumbs
  • salt to taste
Method
1.

Clean and soak the peas overnight or at least 6 hours.

2.

Rinse the peas thouroughly and rub them with your hands. You will see the skin of the peas coming out. Clean them well till the skins have been removed

3.

Grind them well in a food processer into a thick and smooth paste. Use only sufficient amount of water, taking care not to make it runny. The consistancy should be like that of an adai, or a little thicker.

4.

Cover and refrigerate in the fridge overnight. This step is only optional. I have seen that it tastes good either ways.

If refrigerating, bring the batter to room temperature and add the chopped onions,chillies,ginger,salt and bread crumbs

5.

and whisk well.

6.

Heat oil and drop spoonful of the batter into oil.

7.

Keep the heat medium, since overheating will make the outer layer v dark but the insides will remain uncooked. Fry it on both the sides and place it in the tissue paper to remove excess oil.

8.

Serve it with any hot sauce,chutney or plain ketchup. Goes well with all.

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32 Comments

By Mimi on Jun 27, 2012

Where'd you get the idea to add breadcrumbs to the recipe? It's the first time I've heard someone make akara this way... A suggestion I have is: akara is supposed to have a smooth texture on the inside, so what's usually done is that the extra ingedients are blended with the beans (onions, pepper) so that the flavor is there throughout the whole batter. http://chefinyou.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

By victoria on Mar 4, 2012

Akara is one of the many traditional breakfast made by our great-grandmothers and grandmothers to accompany ogi(pap) or bread, the recipe is very basic, and nothing more. beans salt onions habanero

By Pork and black-eyed-pea meatballs in tomato sauce - Low GI & Omega 3 Rich Recipes on Sep 9, 2009

[...] This recipe was inspired by some quick, cheap and tasty black-eyed-pea balls at an African restaurant called Le Kilimanjaro recently. Black eyed peas have a low GI (38-52) and a carbohydrate portion of 30g (1.1 ounces) per 150g (5.3 ounces). They are high in fibre, magnesium, folate, iron and protein.  I found a recipe for the traditional African version here on a blog called “the chef in you”. They are called “Akara”. [...]

By shilpa on Jan 14, 2008

sounds good, i think it wud have tasted yummy...
will try it, as it is easy.

By Dhivya on Jan 14, 2008

Thank U All for your wonderful comments. I appreciate it.

By Kribha on Jan 13, 2008

I've made something similar to this years back. Looks so delicious. Wanna grab one ,dunk in the sauce and have a bite.

By Jeena on Jan 12, 2008

These look delicious and so few ingredients too which is always great. I bet they taste wonderful dipped in ketchup yum! :-)

By Cynthia on Jan 11, 2008

I've added this recipe to the growing list I have of black-eyed peas recipes :)

By Meera on Jan 11, 2008

They really look delicious! Very different yet wonderful recipe. Thanks for sharing!

By sudha on Jan 11, 2008

yum yum !!

~Sudha(Redmond) ;)

By bhags on Jan 11, 2008

black eyed beans vada.....they look delish....m ready to savour them

By Sagari on Jan 11, 2008

fried food always welcome very nice recipe looks delecious

By Laavanya on Jan 11, 2008

I've been wanting to try making Kunukkus.. maybe I'll try these too. Looks delicious Dhivya.

By Archana on Jan 11, 2008

I love akara's and you have a great recipe, very similar to what one of my friends made.
Thanks for sharing, how i have a link to get the recipe to make it.
Archana

http://www.archanaskitchen.com

By Bharathy on Jan 11, 2008

These are new to me.The Kunukkus too!!Perfect snack with a cuppa tea.
Nice step by step illustrations with pleasant pics!! :)

By Vanamala on Jan 11, 2008

Woww intersting snack dhivya.

By Richa on Jan 11, 2008

yummm :) black eye peas are such a fav at my home! i made burgers out of them, you may chk out my version if u like.

By Happy cook on Jan 11, 2008

ANything deepfried i am there ;-)
This looks delicious

By Siri on Jan 11, 2008

I am back again.. to say this...

@ Dhivi: As I was reading ur comment, I was imagining u, on a sofa with hot, spicy akaras on a plate beside u.. with a cup of coffee.. enjoying this music and reading the story.. aha.. thats indeed a bliss dear.. thanks for ur cute comments.. always!

hehe..:)

~ Siri

By Susan on Jan 11, 2008

Delicious little morsels! I'll have mine with chutney, please. Thank you, Dhivya, for this special snack entry for My Legume Love Affair.

By sunita on Jan 11, 2008

Now, that is one yummy snack...will be making them soon...thanks.

By RAKS KITCHEN on Jan 11, 2008

Such a healthy snack !

By Jayashree on Jan 11, 2008

I make vadas with black eyed peas the same way....the only thing I don't do is pop it in the fridge overnight. Guess all cultures have similar dishes, right???

By lakshmi on Jan 11, 2008

on most sundays for lunch/ or in the evning we have our dose of indulgence :) - a protion of a fried snack - i've lately been in no mood to cook but this has gotten me all excited. im trying this.

By Mansi Desai on Jan 10, 2008

wow Dhivya, that's pretty innovative girl, and you know what, you could probably send the 7th pic for Click-Liquids, the one vada in the oil:)

btw, I'm hosting a Game Night Party event on my blog, so pls do check it out and try to participate:)

By Nags on Jan 10, 2008

thats a lovely snack. never heard of it before!

By Rajitha on Jan 10, 2008

Dhivya..these look soo good...personally i feel african cuisine is very less explored by many...and i am glad that u blogged about it...

By easycrafts on Jan 10, 2008

Hey, thats a lovely one, will try some time

By Siri on Jan 10, 2008

Aaha.. how delicious fritters Dhivi.. and the name is so cute 'akara'..:)
Thanks for ur sweet comment on my blog.. the background music for my blog is of Yanni's.

take care n cya

~ Siri

By Hima on Jan 10, 2008

Never heard about it earlier, but sounds interesting. Looking good too. A must try recipe, thanks for sharing Dhivya. Happy new year to you too.

By Asha on Jan 10, 2008

YUMMY! Just like southern fritters but bigger.You could send this to Mansi for her event or to Susan. Good one for rainy day like today!:)
Psst..don't put on lbs now, or I will make you put on kgs!!;D

By DEEPA on Jan 10, 2008

excellent snack item with black eyed peas ...Yummy Yummy it would have tasted