Description
Acarajé is a traditional Brazilian dish made from black-eyed pea fritters, typically filled with shrimp and served with a spicy sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup dried black-eyed peas, soaked overnight
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced onions
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup spicy pepper sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse and drain the soaked black-eyed peas.
- In a food processor, blend the peas, chopped onion, salt, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder until smooth.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add shrimp, paprika, black pepper, diced tomatoes, and onions. Cook until shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in chopped cilantro and set aside.
- In a deep frying pan, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
- Once hot, drop spoonfuls of the black-eyed pea mixture into the oil, flattening them slightly.
- Fry until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove and drain on paper towels.
- To serve, slice the fritters in half and fill with the shrimp mixture. Drizzle with spicy pepper sauce if desired.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the shrimp and fill the fritters with a spicy bean salad.
- You can experiment with different spices in the black-eyed pea mixture, such as cumin or coriander, for added flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Brazilian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fritter
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 150mg