Kindly pause to read full steps How to Make Akara Nigerian Bean Cakes Ingredients 2 cups white or brown b l a c k -eyed beans 1 small onion chopped 1 -2 fresh chili peppers or Scotch bonnet optional for spice 1 teaspoon salt to taste 1 2 teaspoon ground crayfish optional for extra flavor 1 2 cup water as needed Vegetable or palm oil for frying Instructions 1 Prepare the Beans Soak the beans in water for about 30 minutes to an hour Rub the beans between your hands or pulse in a blender to remove the skins then rinse with water until clean 2 Blend the Batter Blend the peeled beans with onions peppers and a little water until smooth and thick Avoid making it too watery 3 Season the Mixture Pour the blended mixture into a bowl add salt and crayfish if using and mix well 4