Acarajé

Acarajé, a vibrant Brazilian street food, features crispy black-eyed pea fritters filled with savory shrimp and a hint of cayenne. Perfect for a festive gathering or a cozy weeknight dinner, this dish brings a taste of Bahia to your table.

• 2 cups black-eyed peas
• 1 medium onion
• 2 tablespoons dendê oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shrimp
• 1 tablespoon garlic
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• vegetable oil for frying vegetable oil

Method

1. 1

   Rinse and soak the black-eyed peas overnight in water. Drain and remove the skins by rubbing them between your hands.

2. 2

   In a food processor, blend the black-eyed peas with the chopped onion, salt, and half of the dendê oil until you achieve a smooth batter.

3. 3

   Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. Use a spoon to drop the batter into the hot oil, forming round fritters.

4. 4

   Fry the fritters until they are golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels.

5. 5

   In a separate pan, heat the remaining dendê oil and sauté the shrimp with minced garlic and cayenne pepper until cooked, about 3-4 minutes.

6. 6

   Slice the fried fritters in half and stuff them with the sautéed shrimp mixture.

7. 7

   Serve the acarajé warm, optionally with a side of hot sauce or a salad.