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A white plate with twelve round, fried falafel balls, some garnished with parsley and black olives, sits on a white marble surface. A vegan snack recipe in itself, reminiscent of the traditional acarajé. A white cloth is partially visible to the right.

Vegan Acarajé Snack Recipe

An asian woman smiling in front of a potted plant.Hannah Lee
A traditional Afro-Brazilian snack made from deep-fried balls of black-eyed peas, filled with spicy vatapá, adapted to a vegan diet.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Meal Type Dinner, Snacks
Cuisine Brazilian
Servings 4
Calories 346 kcal
Difficulty Medium
Ingredient Cost $6
Shopping Cost$31

Equipment

  • Blender or food processor
  • Deep frying pan
  • Slotted spoon
  • Mixing bowls

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups black-eyed peas soaked overnight
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Vegetable oil for frying

For Vatapá:

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon palm oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon peanuts ground
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Blend soaked black-eyed peas, onion, garlic, and salt into a smooth batter.
    2 cups black-eyed peas, 1 clove garlic, 1 small onion, 1 teaspoon salt
  • Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat.
    Vegetable oil
  • Drop spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil and fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

For Vatapá:

  • In a pan, heat palm oil and sauté onion and garlic until translucent.
    1 small onion, 1 tablespoon palm oil, 1 clove garlic
  • Add ground peanuts, breadcrumbs, coconut milk, ginger, turmeric, chili powder, and salt. Cook until thickened.
    1 cup coconut milk, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon peanuts, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon chili powder, Salt to taste
  • Cut a slit in each acarajé and fill with vatapá.
  • Serve hot.

Notes

Serve with hot sauce for extra spice.
Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 11gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 716mgPotassium: 517mgFiber: 8gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 165IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 6mg
Keyword Afro-Brazilian Snack, Plant-Based, Street Food, Vegan Acarajé

Ingredient Costs: Cost of Recipe by Ingredient Measurements

Shopping Costs: Cost of Recipe with Brand New Ingredient Purchases

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