Akkra Funfun

Akkra Funfun is a traditional Beninese recipe for a classic vegetarian dish of boiled white bean paste flavoured with onions and deep fried. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Beninese version of: Akkra Funfun.

prep time

20 minutes

cook time

40 minutes

Total Time:

60 minutes

Additional Time:

(+over-night soaking)

Serves:

6

Rating: 4.5 star rating

Tags : Vegetarian RecipesBean RecipesBenin Recipes


Ingredients:

300g dried white beans
60ml water
2 tsp salt
oil for deep-fat frying (traditionally a 2:1 mix of groundnut oil to palm oil would be used)
2 tbsp finely-chopped onions
salt to taste
cayenne pepper to taste

Method:

Wash the beans and soak in plenty of water over night. The following day wash the beans again, place in a pan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 40 minutes, or until the beans are soft. Drain well and place in a blender with 60ml water and 2 tsp salt. Blend until they form a thick dough-like paste (add a little more water if necessary). Meanwhile add the oil to a wok or deep-fat fryer and heat to about 190°C.

Fold the chopped onion, salt and cayenne pepper into the bean paste then drop the mixture into the oil a tablespoon at a time and fry until golden brown. Drain the fritters on kitchen paper and serve hot.

For a Nigerian version add chopped hot chillies or finely-dices okra to the mixture. This is a traditional Yoruban snack and is commonly made with black-eyed beans in Nigeria and with white beans in Benin. You can also substitute pumpkin for the beans, as is done in traditional Barbadian cooking.