How to Make Koose (Savoury Fried Bean Cakes)
Koose is West Africa's answer to Middle Eastern falafel. It is made from black-eyed peas, and in this post we will show you how to make koose (savoury fried bean cakes). These are also known as akara.
- Prep time
- 45 min
- Cook time
- 15 min
- Yield
- 15 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 1/2 cups black-eyed peas (dried or cowpeas)
- 1 medium onion
- 1 inch piece ginger
- 1/2 to 1 scotch bonnet pepper (or habanero pepper)
- 1/2 cup water (to blend)
- 1 level teaspoon salt (flaked sea salt)
- 4 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
Instructions
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Preparation
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1. Prepare the beans by soaking and de-hulling them 2 days in advance.
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2. Place the beans into a sturdy blender and begin to pulse until smooth. Add 1/4 cup of water at a
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time to facilitate the blending process.
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3. Add the onion, ginger and scotch bonnet pepper to the blender and pulse until smooth. Add the sea
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salt flakes and mix into the batter.
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4. Heat up the cooking oil in a small to medium sized sauce pan. Test the readiness of the oil by
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adding a shaved piece of ginger. If it sizzles and rises to the top, the oil is hot enough.
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5. Using a tablespoon to scoop the batter, spoon about 5 tablespoons of batter into the oil. You will
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see them puff up into round balls. Fry and allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Turn them in the oil to
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ensure they are evenly browned.
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6. Once cooked, scoop them out of the oil and allow to drain on a paper towel. Serve as a snack with
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a pepper sauce such as sauce rouge as pictured, or a tomato gravy. You can also enjoy it the
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traditional Hausa breakfast way, with porridge known as Hausa koko or ogi pap.