Bean cakes are a staple and vital part of nutrition in Nigeria, and West Africa as a whole. Historically brown cowpea and black eyed-beans are the most common to Nigerian food.

Beans are affordable and that is why we have quite a number of Beans recipes like Moin Moin, Black eyed peas (Ewa Agaonyin), fried bean cakes and more…….

What is Bean Cakes?

Bean cakes/bean balls/bean fritas/akara is a Nigerian food made from beans puree, spiced with pepper and onions and deep fried to perfection.

The Yoruba’s call Nigerian bean cakes Akara, while the Hausa tribe calls it Kosai. It also goes by the name Acarajé/ Koose in Ghana or Acarajé in Portuguese.

There is a good alternative type of Nigerian akara that are prepared with palm oil and they are crunchy outside and soft inside. It is known as Akara Osu and they are tasty as the one made with vegetable oil.

Bean cake is a very common snack that you can eat any time of the day. Even though Akara is widely known as a breakfast meal, it can also be served as a snack or enjoyed as a light dinner with bread, akamu/pap/ogi, agidi/eko, garri or custard.

African bean recipe may seem challenging but, with repetition, you will perfect this recipe. The first time is always the hardest.

To make Akara, you need to, first of all, remove the beans coat just before making the Akara.

Akara/Bean Cakes Recipe

The recipe and method of making akara include:

Ingredients

1 cup peeled beans (black-eyed or brown beans)

2 raw atarodo (habanero) peppers- chopped

1 medium onion

Salt to taste

Vegetable oil for frying

Directions on How to Make Beans Cake

Please Read: How to Peel Beans with Hand