There is a popular food in my country called "Akara" which is so known as "Bean cake". Akara is most served for a different reason because it is a food that passes a message. But in this modern world, people eat it anywhere.
It can be purchased at the roadside from Akara vendors or can be made at home.
Before I explain the process of how to make Akara, I would like to share the importance of Akara in my culture. Akara is a special food that is served at a gathering and is used for remembrance. What is remembrance? Remembrance in my culture is a set-aside date that people use to celebrate a lost (dead) one. When an elderly person dies, after a year of departure it is compulsory to do remembrance for such a person and this is mostly done by the children or grandchildren of the deceased. The special food to be made on that day is " Akara"
How to make Akara
As I said, in the modern day, one can get Akara anywhere or even make it at home. Recently, my mom made this delicious food and I decided to share the making process with you all.
- Akara is made from brown beans. You have to soak your beans in a bowl and wash away the peels from the bean itself, after you have done that, the bean color would become white.
- You add some pepper and Onion. After you have added the pepper you want to your satisfaction, then you blend it to a level that makes it into a paste.
Bakers in the building would understand
Note: some people prefer lots of pepper while others don't, it depends on how much pepper you can take but I would advise you to use a little.
- After your beans are in paste form, put a pan on the gas cooker and add vegetable oil. There are various kinds of oil, any vegetable oil would work but I would advise you to avoid using Red oil.
Note: Recently, Akara is now made with red oil, all food has a way to evolve.
When your oil is hot enough, you can now put the paste into the hot oil with a spoon so a good shape of Akara can be formed.
- Make sure the paste is well-fried. In a short time, you would have your Akara a.k.a bean-cake.
Akara can be eaten in various ways. You can either eat your Akara with Bread, or with Garri, or with Pap.
This is a picture of Pap is that isn't served yet. I should have taken a picture of my served food but I guess I was too impatient because I wanted to eat😋😋😀
Most time, I prefer eating mine with Pap. Homemade Pap is always the best.
Thanks for having me. All pictures used are mine.