Black Eyed Peas Frittersakara Food

BLACK-EYED PEAS FRITTERS(AKARA)

Steps:

• Instructions
• Soak them for about 15 minutes, pulse in the blender or food processor to break the peas (about 5- 10 times or about 10 to 15 seconds) you should do this in small quantities. In a large bowl soak the beans with warm water for about 2 hours or up to 24hours, cover with water until tender.
• Rub the peas between your hands to take the skin off. The skins will float to the top. Pour off the skins, into a colander; you may have to do this process several times. Most of the skin will come off the peas; Sort through the remaining peas to remove all the skin. You can do this ahead of time and freeze it, to save time
• In a food processor, puree onions, black-eyed peas and habanero pepper with no or very little water until completely smooth. You might have to do this in two batches. It is important to note that ,using water will cause the mixture to be very light and will not hold together.
• In a medium bowl mix together, blended black eyed peas , salt,and eggs.
• Heat up a large skillet or cast iron with oil up to ½ inch- medium-high heat (375) until hot but not smoking.
• Gently place batter by spoonfuls in hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes turning once. Fry in batches and do not over crowd pan - it may lead to soggy akara. Remove from hot oil with a slotted spoon, drain well, and serve.,

AKARA (BLACK-EYED PEA FRITTERS)

Steps:

• Clean the black-eyed peas in running water. Soak them in water for at least a few hours or overnight. After soaking them, rub them together between your hands to remove the skins. Rinse to wash away the skins and any other debris. Drain them in a colander.
• Crush, grind, or mash the black-eyed peas into a thick paste. Add enough water to form a smooth, thick paste of a batter that will cling to a spoon. Add all other ingredients (except oil). Some people allow the batter to stand for a few hours (overnight in the refrigerator); doing so improves the flavor.
• Heat oil in a deep skillet. Beat the batter with a wire whisk or wooden spoon for a few minutes. Make fritters by scooping up a spoon full of batter and using another spoon to quickly push it into the hot oil. Deep fry the fritters until they are golden brown. Turn them frequently while frying. (If the fritters fall apart in the oil, stir in a beaten egg, some cornmeal or crushed breadcrumbs.).
• Serve with an African Hot Sauce or salt, as a snack, an appetizer, or a side dish.
• Variation: Add a half cup of finely chopped leftover cooked meat to the batter before frying; or add a similar amount dried shrimp or prawns.

BLACK-EYED PEA FRITTERS ("ACCARA")

Steps:

• For the fritters: Place two-thirds of the black eyed peas, 1/4 cup of water, the olive oil, salt and pepper in a food processor and blend to a smooth paste. Add the remaining peas and the scallions and pulse 4 or 5 times to break up the peas but not completely puree them. Scoop about a heaping tablespoon of the mixture at a time into your hands and form about 24 balls. (The balls do not need to be perfectly round--they are more authentic if roughly formed.) Put the cornmeal in a shallow baking dish. Roll the balls in the cornmeal, leaving them in the baking dish, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• For the sauce: Heat the peanut oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the habaneros and onions and cook until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, salt and black pepper. When the tomatoes start to break down and get soft, put a lid on the pan, lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Let the sauce cool slightly, and then blend in a food processor until smooth.
• Pour 2 to 3 inches of peanut oil in a large heavy-bottomed pan or Dutch oven. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil registers 375 degrees F. Fry the fritters, in 2 or 3 batches, about 4 minutes per batch. Remove to drain on a paper-towel-lined baking sheet. Season lightly with salt and serve with the spicy tomato sauce on the side.

BLACK-EYED PEA FRITTERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, red pepper and garlic and saute until soft, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, add 2/3 of the black-eyed peas and mash all the ingredients together with a potato masher. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• Add the flour, egg, green onion, oregano, lemon zest, cayenne, and 1/4 to 1/2 cup breadcrumbs to the pea mixture. Fold in the cheese and remaining black-eyed peas. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place the remaining breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl. Divide the batter into 12 portions using a 1 1/2-ounce portion scoop. Press into flat 1/2-inch-thick discs and coat in the remaining breadcrumbs.
• Wipe out the skillet. Heat the remaining oil and, in batches, sear the fritters until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Place on a baking sheet and finish cooking in the oven until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Top with the onion jam and garnish with the green onions.
• Melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the onions, lemon zest, ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until the onions start to turn translucent, about 5 minutes
• Add the coriander, 1/4 cup of the brown sugar and half the lemon juice and turn the heat to low. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions start to cook down and the liquid is evaporated, about 15 minutes. Add 1/3 cup water every 10 minutes and continue to cook until the onions are thick and golden brown, about 55 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar and the lemon juice and cook until the brown sugar melts, 3 to 5 minutes more. Season to taste.

AKKRAS (BLACK EYE PEA FRITTERS)

Steps:

• Soak the black eyed beans in plenty of cold water for 6-8 hours or overnight. Drain the beans and then, with a brisk actions, rub the beans between the palms of your hands to remove the skins.
• Return the beans to the bowl, top with water and the skins will float to the surface. Discard the skins and soak the beans again for 3 hours.
• Place the beans in a blender or food processor with the onion, chili, if using and a little water. Blend to make a thick paste. Pour the mixture into a large bowl and whisk for a few minutes.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy sauce pan and fry spoonfuls of the mixture for 4 minutes until golden brown.

BLACK-EYED PEA FRITTERS

Steps:

• Place the black-eyed peas in a large bowl with enough hot water to cover. Soak for at least 15 minutes (longer, even overnight, is fine), until the skins easily peel off when rubbed between the palms of your hands. Rub the skins off the peas, letting the skins float to the top. Slowly pour out the water and the skins with it, leaving the peas in the bowl. Repeat until all the peas are cleaned.
• Drain the peas and place in a food processor along with the onion, baking soda, salt, a splash of water and the black and red pepper, if using. Process until a smooth batter forms, adding a little more water if necessary. The batter should be smoothly blended, similar to the consistency of light hummus.
• Pour oil into a large cast-iron skillet or other heavy, straight-sided pan to a depth of 1 inch. Heat oil to 365 degrees over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and, using a spoon, carefully drop 1 tablespoon of batter into the oil. Repeat until there are several dollops in the pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes, turning the fritters once. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towel and keep warm. Repeat until all batter is used.
• To serve, split 1/4 baguette or a pita bread and fill with 3 or 4 fritters, a generous spoonful of pickled carrots, and some lettuce, tomato, onion and cilantro. (Alternatively, arrange accara, without the bread, on a platter and serve with drinks.) Serve immediately.

BLACK-EYED PEA FRITTERS WITH HOT PEPPER RELISH

Steps:

• Soak peas for fritters:
• Put peas in water to cover by 2 inches and soak 8 hours. Drain in a colander.
• Make relish:
• Purée bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, chile, and salt in 2 batches in a food processor.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then stir in purée (use caution as it will splatter). Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• Make fritters:
• Purée peas, onion, and chile in food processor until as smooth as possible, then blend in egg and salt. With motor running, add 3 tablespoons water and blend until smooth and fluffy (add remaining tablespoon water if necessary to form a batter just thin enough to drop from a spoon).
• Fry fritters:
• Heat oil in a 4-quart heavy pot (preferably cast-iron) until thermometer registers 360°F. Working in batches of 8, gently drop tablespoons of batter into hot oil, using a small spoon to scrape batter from tablespoon. Fry, stirring constantly (to prevent fritters from browning too quickly), until golden, about 2 minutes, then transfer to paper towels to drain. Return oil to 360°F between batches.