Akara

***Akara*** (Yoruba: *àkàrà*; Portuguese: *acarajé*) be a type of fritter dem make from cowpeas anaa beans (black-eyed peas) dem originate insyd Yorubaland, from de Yoruba ethnic group wey dey inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin den Togo. E be known as "bean cake" insyd English. Dem dey find am thru out West African, Caribbean, den Brazilian cuisines. De dish be traditionally encountered insyd Brazil ein northeastern state of Bahia, especially insyd de city of Salvador. Na enslaved Yoruba citizens from West Africa bring de dish, wey still fi be found insyd various forms insyd Nigeria, Benin den Togo.

Dem dey make *Akara* from peeled beans (black-eyed peas), washed den ground plus pepper den oda preferred seasonings, then beaten to aerate dem, den deep-fried insyd small balls. Dem usually dey fry akara insyd vegetable oil. E sanso fi be fried insyd palm oil, wich dem call *akara kengbe* anaa *akara elepo*, though vegetable oil fried akara be most common.

## Etymology
*Àkàrà* be a Yoruba word wey dey mean "pastry" anaa de dish einself. De Brazilian term *acarajé*, according to Márcio de Jagun, be derived from de phrase *àkàrà n'jẹ*, wey dey mean "come den chop *akara*"; na dem use de phrase to call out to customers by women wey dey sell *akara* on de street.

## History

*Akara* dey play a significant role insyd de Yoruba culture, as e specially be prepared wen a person wey came of age (70 den above) die. E be usually prepared insyd large quantities den distributed across every household close to de deceased. *Akara* sanso be used to be prepared in large as a sign of victory, wen warriors cam back victorious from war. De women, especially de wives of de warriors, go fry *akara* den distribute am to de villagers.

Acarajé dey serve as both a religious offering to de gods insyd de Candomblé religion den as street chow.

*Akara* (as dem know insyd southwest Nigeria) be a recipe dem take to Brazil by de enslaved peoples from de West African coast. E be called "akara" by de Yoruba people of West Africa, "kosai" by de Hausa people of Nigeria, den "koose" insyd Ghana. E be a common breakfast dish, dem dey chop plus millet anaa corn pudding. Insyd Nigeria,dem commonly dey chop *akara* plus bread, custard, ogi (anaa eko), a type of cornmeal dem make plus fine corn flour.

Insyd Sierra Leone, *akara* dey compose of rice flour, mashed banana, baking powder, den sugar. After dem mix togeda, dem drop am insyd oil by hand, den fried, similar to puff-puff. E be then formed into a ball. *Akara* be usually prepared for events like Pulnado (event dem hold secof de birth of a kiddie), a wedding, funeral, anaa party.

## Protected status
Na dem list acarajé as a national intangible historic heritage (*patrimônio nacional imaterial*), by de National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage insyd 2004; de role of *baianas* insyd de preparation wey dem recognize sale of acarajé insyd de same act. Insyd October 2023, Rio de Janeiro declare de fritter to be part of dat city ein cultural heritage.

## Nutrition
*Akara* be a good source of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins den minerals such as calcium, iron den zinc, although ein nutritional value usually be reduced by de presence of antinutritional factors such as phytates, fibers, lectins, polyphenols den tannins wey dey affect minerals dema bioavailability.

## Insyd popular culture

* Na dem feature *akara* (acarajé) on de Netflix TV series *Street Food* volume 2, wich focus on Latin American street foods.
* De song *No Tabuleiro da Baiana*, wey Ary Barroso wrep den famously recorded by João Gilberto, Maria Bethânia, Caetano Veloso, den Gilberto Gil, dey reference acarajé, abará, vatapá, den caruru.

## References



## External links

* Recipe for Nigerian Chin Chin