Akara aka Banana Fritters – Sierra Leone Flavours

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It is time to introduce you to one of my favourite ever Sierra Leonean recipes for breakfast.

Akara Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry

 Akara to me or banana fritters to you. They are like nutmegy banana pancake balls – but so much better. Especially when served with sweet oniony Sierra Leone gravy and ice-cold ginger beer.

Akara Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry

This akara recipe brings back fond memories of the foodie arguments I have my with mum. She could never understand why all I wanted for breakfast, when I went back home, was things like akara and fried plantains. She wanted to serve up special chicken and chips etc. You know the foods special to Sierra Leoneans living in Sierra Leone. Whilst all I wanted was the food special to Sierra Leoneans living abroad. Aka their everyday salone food. I know I will have the exact same conversation next time I visit.

banana fritters batter | Recipes From A Pantry

As long as you have the overripe bananas and rice flour ready you can whip up your akara pretty easily. The test is whether you can avoid eating them straight out of the pot. My youngest and I have zero self control when it comes to these. How did I even manage to photograph this batch?

How to make banana fritters recipe | Recipes From A Pantry

So here is my super easy akara recipe and please do let me know what variations you have in your banana fritters recipes.

Also if you do like fritters then why not try these Corn Fritters from Little Sunny Kitchen. They look sooooooo lush.

 

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Akara Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry
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5 from 8 votes

Akara aka Banana Fritters - Sierra Leone Flavours

Super easy akara (banana fritters recipe).
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: African
Servings: 6
Calories: 191kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 4 medium overripe bananas
  • 160 g (5.6oz) rice flour
  • 1 heaped tsp baking powder
  • 1/2-1 tsp grated nutmeg
  • A pinch of salt
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 2-4 tbsp water
  • Oil for deep frying

Instructions

  • Peel the bananas, add them to a blender and whizz until pureed.
  • Transfer the pureed banana to a bowl and mix in all the ingredients plus 2 tbsp of water.
  • The batter should have a drop-like consistency but if not then mix in the other 2 tbsp of water.
  • Heat the oil over medium a medium flame and drop tablespoons full of the batter into the oil.
  • Cook the akara for 1min then turn round and cook on the other side for another min until golden brown.
  • Remove the akara and drain them on paper kitchen towels.
  • Continue until all the batter is done.
  • Serve with some gravy or sweet chilli sauce.
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Notes

Make sure to use medium flame as the akara will burn on high heat. Do gently squeeze the akara between kitchen towels to remove any excess oil before serving. This makes up to 20 akara.

Nutrition

Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 2g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 318mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 6.8mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Sierra Leone flavours – is the spot on my blog where I share both traditional Sierra Leonean recipes and West African fusion recipes.

 

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36 Comments

  1. I hope these taste like Grandma used to make! I look forward to trying to get it as good as hers. I really miss akara.

  2. Oh they look really crisp, sometimes mine come out a bit soggy, so I will definitely be trying this recipe! Ty

  3. 5 stars
    Aww, Bintu! This always bring childhood memories… Just like you , I Love Love Banana fritters aka “accra banana”.I have made several versions of it using , whole wheat , corn flour, cassava and plantains – Can’t seem to get enough it! Yours look really delicious- Yum!

  4. Yum, I love your series on Salone food. This looks incredibly delicious, I’m going to try and make them, maybe with rice pap. Do you have a recipe for rice pap? The one with tiny rice balls and flavoured with lime/lemon?

    1. I don’t have a recipe for pap yest. I keep meaning to do one. I will let you know if I have one.

      1. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe, i was wondering if you could one day maybe post a video on how to make the Akara, as I have been trying various recipes but I always seem to make the Akara too soft

      2. 5 stars
        Thank you so much for sharing the recipe, i was wondering if you could one day maybe post a video on how to make the Akara, as I have been trying various recipes but I always seem to make the Akara too soft .

  5. Interesting, we have akara but what we call akara are beans fritters. Love learning about other cultures and interesting to see the similarities. I can’t remember what we call banana fritters though.

  6. These sound wonderful – a very indulgent brunch idea and what interesting flavours. Pinning this to my brunch board to try out on the long weekend.

  7. These look delicious but I can’t imagine them with onion gravy. Definitely one to try but I might pass on the gravy. GG

  8. I love to read about your Sierra Leone recipes. Love the banana fritters for breakfast idea, I think I’d pour maple syrup over mine 😉

  9. Those look amazingly tasty and very moreish Bintu! I am a big fan of banana fritters so I am sure I would love these!

  10. 5 stars
    I love learning about new flavours and food from around the world. These look amazing and I am not even a fan of bananas, although with the spices etc I am sure I would love them. I am going to give them a go. Fabulous.