Brazilian Cuisine
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Acarajé

Acarajé is a deep-fried ball made from peeled black-eyed peas, traditionally served split and stuffed with vatapá and caruru, spicy pastes made from shrimp, peanuts, and palm oil. It is a savory and richly flavored street food emblematic of Afro-Brazilian culture, especially in Bahia, where it is also used in religious offerings in Candomblé rituals.

7 ingredients
savoryspicynuttyearthyumami
West African70%
Indigenous Brazilian20%
European10%

Ingredients

  • black-eyed peas
    2 cups
  • onion
    1 medium
  • dendê (palm) oil
    1 cup
  • salt
    to taste
  • shrimp
    1 cup
  • peanuts
    1/2 cup
  • bread crumbs
    1/2 cup

Method

Steps not available

Acarajé originates from the Yoruba people of West Africa and was brought to Brazil by enslaved Africans, evolving into a cultural symbol of Afro-Brazilian identity and spirituality.

Ingredient ancestry breakdown

West African70%
ingredients+techniques
Indigenous Brazilian20%
ingredient_origin
European10%
ingredient_origin
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