Akara balls with sweetcorn

Ok, I know my imagination runs wild, but this is just your good old akara balls and it has a recipe here (lol). Adding sweetcorn to akara came to me while I was making some for my kids who don’t like eating akara. The jar of sweetcorn was looking at me and I thought “since they like this, why don’t I add them to this batter”. It seriously came out nice and you have to try it too. Also, go and try the Dodo-akara pancake, while we think of more variations.

Akara is easy to make at home if you have a good blender to blend your beans with just very little water. A mortar or hand mixer or just the simple whisk are the best for turning the batter and getting it done well so as not to go flat in the hot oil when frying. Use the akara balls and nuggets recipe below for this and just add your sweetcorn after whisking. I have also tried using baking powder and it came out nice…will update you on that one day.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup beans (black-eyed or brown)
• 1 small tin sweetcorn
• 1 small onion
• Salt and pepper to taste (reduce or omit for younger ones)
• Water for blending

Method:

1. Peel and wash off the back of the beans. Try not to over-soak the beans in water as it affects the final mixture and the tendency to form perfect balls when frying.
2. Add beans, onions and pepper in a blender. Add water to ¼ level of the beans and blend to a smooth thick puree. Your beans mixture should not be runny.
3. If using a mortar, pour into the mortar and using a pestle, blend or turn clockwise to incorporate air, making the mixture increase or rise. If you have no mortar, put the beans mixture in a bowl and using your egg whisk, start whisking to incorporate air for about 2 or more minutes.
4. Add the sweet corn and mix in well.
5. Scoop into the hot oil with a spoon and fry till golden brown, turning the other side to brown too.

Note:

* Be careful when frying, as some of the corns on the outside may actually pop.

*If you have a toddler or baby, you can actually mash up the corn a bit before adding to the akara batter.

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