Akara (Nigerian Bean Fritters)
Crispy outside, fluffy inside. Lagos street-corner breakfast made from peeled black-eyed peas, peppers, and onions, fried golden. Eat with hot pap or bread.
- Total time:
- 45 min
- Servings:
- 6
- Per serving:
- 240 kcal
- Cost per serving:
- $0.90
- Difficulty:
- medium
Step-by-step
Soak beans 4 hours. Rub off skins and rinse until clean.
Blend peeled beans with peppers, onion, and minimal water. batter should be thick and hold its shape.
Beat batter vigorously by hand or with a whisk for 2 minutes to incorporate air. this makes them fluffy.
Heat oil to 350°F. Drop spoonfuls of batter into oil. Fry 3–4 minutes per side until deep golden.
7 min timer
Drain on paper towels. Serve hot.
Cook's tip
Air whipping the batter is what separates restaurant akara from dense fritters. Do not skip it.
Storage
Best eaten fresh. Reheat in 375°F oven 5 minutes.
Freezer: Freeze cooked. Reheat from frozen in oven.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 240
- Protein
- 11g
- Carbs
- 27g
- Fat
- 11g
- Fiber
- 7g
- Sugar
- 3g
- Sat Fat
- 1.5g
- Sodium
- 410mg
Estimates based on USDA FoodData Central. See our nutrition disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use canned beans?
In a pinch yes. drain very well and pat dry. Texture is denser than peeled-bean version.
What do I serve with akara?
Hot pap (ogi), bread and butter, or oatmeal porridge. Some eat it with hot chili sauce.
Reviews
Tola O.
3 days ago
Made this for Sunday lunch — the smoky bottom turned out perfect. Family demolished the pot in twenty minutes.
✓ Would make again
Marcus B.
1 week ago
First time cooking this and the timing notes saved me. Did not lift the lid once. The crust at the bottom was the best part.
✓ Would make again
Aisha K.
2 weeks ago
Loved it but added an extra scotch bonnet — we like it spicy. Recipe scales well, made a double batch.
✓ Would make again
Reviews shown are illustrative pre-launch. Real user reviews appear here as the community grows.
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