How To Make The Perfect Akara Balls
When it comes to one meal that Nigerians are known for, Akara would top the list. Yes, we know that Jollof rice is King but Akara is one delicacy that knows no gender, status, or pocket. It is easy to make, cheap and tasty.
Ingredients
- Beans
- Red bell pepper
- Yellow scotch bonnet peppers
- Spring onions
- Onions
- Salt
- Egg
- Groundnut oil
Instructions
- Start by soaking your beans in enough water in a bowl. You can use as many cups as you wish. Soak the beans for about an hour. It will help make the beans softer and make the skin fall off easily. Now, you can use your blender to do this part or simply use your hands to scrub the beans against each other to get the skin to fall off quickly.
- Sieve out the beans into a strainer and get the skin off. You can throw that into the waste bin. Keep scrubbing and sieving the beans until you have fully gotten rid of all the skin.
- Now, you can either choose to also blend the beans at home or get that done in the market. If you have a strong blender that can blend the beans properly, then do so.
- Add your beans to the blender, then add your chopped onions and peppers to the blender. Add some water to the blender first before adding your beans, pepper, and onions. You only need a little water when you're blending the beans. Blend smoothly and repeat the same process for the rest of the beans.
- Once that is done, pour the blended beans into a bowl. For Akara, you don't want your paste to be watery. Now, add some oil into a pan for deep frying and allow it to heat up.
- Now, dice some more onions, bell peppers, and spring onions. Add some salt to your paste and whisk the beans paste. If you don't whisk the paste when frying, the Akara balls will absorb oil and no one wants that. Add your egg and whisk again. Add your spring onions and peppers and stir gently. It's time to start frying.
- Add your paste in small sizes one at a time. Fry on medium heat. Allow it to fry on one side before flipping it. Use a skewer to flip the Akara balls gently. Once they are well fried, take them out of the oil and place them in a paper towel, in a sieve or strainer. Your Akara balls are ready to be served.