Crispy Akara Shrimps a.k.a Shrimp in Bean Fritters…. Lets just take a moment to think about it…..

Okay! Are we smart or what?

I did this because i know you want it and also because, just like me, you’ve known that Akara that has been saving lives since “1867” can be so much more beyond just plain akara or akara burger! 🙂

I mean, a batter that is as delicious as akara batter should have things being dipped in it left, right and center – Enter Crispy Akara Shrimp or prawns if you will. Does this look and sound delicious or what? I wish i could have a sampling party right now to be honest…. *Passes tray round* 🙂

Since the akara or bean fritter batter is for dipping, you don’t require a large quantity of beans so washing and peeling the beans wont be as difficult or as time consuming. I realize that’s the daunting part so needed you to know  that the quantity of beans used in this recipe was a breeze to peel and was just enough to coat 32 large shrimps with a little batter left for 5 mini akaras/bean fritters.

Once the beans is washed and peeled, it is blended with onions with a little water added. The less water used, the better because you want a thick and not runny batter. The blended beans is transferred to a bowl into which salt and chopped scotch bonnet (rodo) is added. Egg is separated and the yolk is added to and mixed into the beans batter. The egg white is whipped until stiff and then gently folded into the beans batter. Lightly cooked large shrimp are then dipped in the beans batter and deep fried and you have crispy golden shrimp in bean fritters!

Crispy Akara Shrimp, Shrimp in Bean Fritters, Nigerian Food Recipes 11

 In summary, 
Ingredients
  • 130 grams Nigerian Brown Beans or Black Eye Peas
  • 1 small Onion (Weighing approx. 90 grams peeled)
  • 120 mls water for blending
  • ¼ tsp and a pinch of Salt
  • 1 medium red Scotch Bonnet (Rodo; 10grams chopped)
  • 1 Large Egg (Egg and yolk separated)
  • 300 grams large Shrimps (About 32 pieces, peeled with tail on, deveined and lightly cooked)
  • Vegetable Oil for deep frying
Instructions
  1. Soak beans in water in a medium bowl for about 10-15 minutes, then wash the beans rigorously with the palm of both hands to peel the beans. Use a sieve to strain the beans peel as you wash and until all the beans have been completely peeled, strained and clean. Drain excess water.
  2. Place the beans, onions and about 120 mls of water in a blender or goblet of a food processor and puree until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and mix in salt, chopped pepper and egg yolk.
  3. Place oil for deep frying in a pan on medium heat or turn on a deep fryer, drop a few slices of onions into the oil to fragrant and remove the onions when brown. Meanwhile, using a hand whisk or balloon whisk, beat egg white until stiff. Do not over beat. Carefully fold in egg whites into beans mixture. Working in batches of 8, place pieces of shrimp in the batter. Carefully coat and pick up each shrimp by the tail and drop into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown on each side and place over kitchen paper to drain excess oil.. Repeat until all the shrimp have been fried. Serve hot.