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Snack Ideas Cooking Time : Preparation: 30 minutes + soaking: 8 hours; Cooking: 30 minutes Recipe Servings : 4 Recipe Dificult : easy 0.00

Acarajé | Traditional Brazilian Black-Eyed Pea Fritters with Spicy Shrimp Filling

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Acarajé is a famous traditional street food from Bahia, Brazil, with deep roots in Afro-Brazilian cuisine. These golden, crispy fritters are made from peeled black-eyed peas blended with onion and salt, then fried until beautifully crisp on the outside while remaining soft and tender inside. Their distinctive flavour and texture make them a much-loved snack and a popular feature of Brazilian food culture.

Traditionally, Acarajé is split open and filled with vatapá, a creamy savoury paste, caruru, a rich okra-based preparation, and seasoned shrimp. It is often served with a spicy pepper sauce for extra flavour. Whether enjoyed as a street-food snack or prepared at home for a special meal, Acarajé offers a delicious taste of Bahia's culinary heritage.

Cooking Method

Soak the Peas: Soak the black-eyed peas in plenty of water for about 8 hours or overnight.
Remove the Skins: Rub the soaked peas between your hands to loosen their skins. Rinse and remove as many skins as possible.
Prepare the Batter: Drain the peas and blend them with chopped onion and salt until a thick, smooth batter forms.
Whip the Batter: Transfer the batter to a bowl and beat it well with a spoon or whisk until it becomes lighter and slightly fluffy.
Heat the Oil: Heat enough palm oil or vegetable oil in a deep pan for frying.
Shape the Fritters: Use a large spoon to scoop portions of batter into the hot oil.
Fry Until Golden: Fry in batches, turning as needed, until the fritters are golden brown and cooked through.
Drain and Serve: Remove the fritters and place them on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
Add the Filling: Slice each fritter open and fill with vatapá, caruru, and seasoned shrimp if desired. Serve with pepper sauce.