Nigerian · snack
Akara (Bean Fritters)
Akara (Bean Fritters) reads richness 5.2, heat 4.7 and allium 4.2 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Nigerian snack, about 15 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 3.8 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 1.6 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 0.0 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 2.8 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 5.8 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 5.1 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Richness 5.2 · Heat 4.7 · Allium 4.2 · Salinity 3.6 · Earthy 2.6 · Nutty 2.1 · Umami 2.0 · Bitterness 1.6 · Sweetness 1.6 · Herbaceous 1.3
What's in it (5)
- 2 cups black-eyed peas
- 1/2 onion
- 2 scotch bonnet peppers
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups oil for deep frying
Time & effort: about 15 min · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 218.5 kcal, 13 g protein, 1.6 g fat, 38.2 g carbs
Dietary: Vegan — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Soak black-eyed peas and rub off the skins, then blend with onion and scotch bonnet to a smooth, thick batter.
- Whip the batter vigorously with a spoon to incorporate air, season with salt, then drop by spoonfuls into hot deep oil.
- Fry until golden and crisp on the outside and cooked through.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Bean-Filled Bread (Lobiani) — Georgian
- Masala Dosa — Indian
- Sig's Lentil, Artichoke and Scallion Soup — British
- Papadzules — Mexican · Yucatán
- Croquetas de Jamón — Spanish
Keep reading: what richness, heat, allium mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →
Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.