Nigerian Akara

Akara also known as bean cake is made by peeling Nigerian sweet beans or black eyed beans, blend into paste and then deep fry. Its one of the most popular breakfast for Nigerians and it is made with few ingredients; beans, salt, pepper and onion. But with the modern day cooking, other ingredients could be added, such as tatashe, maggi seasoning...

Ingredients

1 cup Nigerian sweet beans (skin peeled)

1/2 cup water ( from this half cup, minus 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon)

1 scotch bonnet

1 knorr cube seasoning

1/2 medium sized tatshe

salt to taste

Oil for deep frying

   Instructions

Method

• In a bowl, soak the beans in warm water for about 3 minutes. Drain and then briskly rub the beans between palms of your hands to remove the skin.

• Add enough water into your bowl, this makes the skins float to the surface and discard the skin. Repeat this severally until the skins are all removed just as in the picture. Then soak the bean overnight with hot water from tap.

• Rinse out beans , place in the blender with the onion, knorr seasoning, water, scotch bonnet and pointed peppers.

• Transfer the thick-smooth beans paste to stand mixer and attach the flat beater hook; add salt and mix on medium speed for about 5 minutes.

• While this is mixing, heat the oil in a wok/pot, remember we are deep-frying. Also get every other thing we need ready. For instance, line the sieve with kitchen paper, get your frying spoon ready and spoon for scooping in the beans mix.

• Once oil is heated and ready,  scoop in mixture and fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper. Repeat process...

• Enjoy hot or cold...