Acarajé (Bahian black-eyed pea fritter)

Acarajé is a signature street food of Bahia's Afro-Brazilian cuisine: a fritter made from black-eyed peas, crisp outside and airy inside, traditionally filled with a shrimp-and-tomato mixture. It's also made for Candomblé festivals and sold on the streets of Salvador.

Open in Receptnaptár — serving calculator, cook mode, save

Method

Tap a step once you've finished it.

1. Drain the soaked peas well, then rub them by hand or in a clean tea towel to remove the skins; rinse off the skins.
2. Blend the skinned peas with the onion and salt in a food processor into a smooth, thick paste, adding only a little water.
3. Beat the mixture by hand or with a whisk for a few minutes to make it airy, as this helps it puff up while frying.
4. Scoop small portions into hot oil with a tablespoon and fry both sides until golden, about 3-4 minutes. ⏱ Timer: 3 min
5. Meanwhile fry the shrimp with the tomatoes, chilli flakes and oil for a few minutes, then sprinkle with the coriander.
6. Cut the fried fritters open and fill with the warm shrimp mixture; serve hot.

A Receptnaptár original recipe. Calories and protein are estimated.

Tips

• Remove the pea skins thoroughly, as the mixture with skins still on puffs up less easily while frying.
• Beat the mixture well to add air, as this is what makes the inside of the fritter light rather than dense.
• The oil should be hot enough (about 180°C), otherwise the fritter will spread out before it sets.
• It can also be made with a plain tomato-and-chilli filling instead of shrimp, for those who don't eat seafood.

Frequently asked questions

What role does palm oil play?

The traditional recipe fries the fritters in dendê (palm oil), which gives a distinctive, slightly sweet flavour and vivid colour; if unavailable, a neutral oil also works well.

Is it good without the shrimp?

Yes, the filling can be left out or swapped for a vegetable one; the fritter is tasty on its own too, with a lightly salted, roasted-bean flavour.

Similar recipes

• Loukoumades (honey doughnut balls) · Greek
• Draniki (potato pancakes with sour cream) · Russian
• Yam woon sen (glass noodle salad with prawns) · Southeast Asian
• Dou sha bao (sweet red bean buns) · Chinese
• Doujiang (homemade soya milk) · Chinese
• Churros (Fried Dough Sticks with Cinnamon Sugar) · Spanish & Portuguese

More spanish & portuguese ideas

• Cream-filled buñuelos, Spanish-style doughnut balls (Buñuelos)
• San Expedito day fried doughnuts (Huesillos de San Expedito)
• Broad bean salad with salt cod and spring onions
• Artichokes in Oil and Vinegar
• Sautéed Artichokes with Ham
• Rice with Chicken and White Wine
• Rice with salt cod

How to use it · Privacy (in Hungarian) · Legal notice (in Hungarian) · Editorial principles (in Hungarian) · Cookie settings

Language: Magyar · Español · Deutsch