How to Make Koose (Savoury Fried Bean Cakes)

How to Make Koose (Savoury Fried Bean Cakes)

from myburntorange.com
60 min
15 bean balls

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.

Ingredients

  • 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)

Directions

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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.