Acarajé
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Acarajé (Portuguese pronunciation: [akaɾaˈʒɛ]
listen (help·info)) is a dish made from peeled black-eyed peas formed into a ball and then deep-fried in dendê (palm oil). It is found in Nigerian and Brazilian cuisine. It is traditionally encountered in Brazil's northeastern state of Bahia, especially in the city of Salvador, often as street food, and is also found in most parts of Nigeria and Ghana
It is served split in half and then stuffed with vatapá and caruru – spicy pastes made from shrimp, cashews, palm oil and other ingredients. A vegetarian version is typically served with hot peppers and green tomatoes. In Nigeria, it is commonly eaten for breakfast with gruel made from millet.
Akara (as it is known in southwest and southeast Nigeria) was a recipe taken to Brazil by the slaves from the West African coast. It is called "akara" by the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria and in the Yorubaland of southwestern Nigeria, "kosai" by the Hausa people of Nigeria or "koose" in Ghana and is a popular breakfast dish, eaten with millet porridge.
Today in Bahia, Brazil, most street vendors serve acaraje are women, easily recognizable by their all-white cotton dresses and headscarves and caps. The image of these women, often simply called "Baianas", frequently appears in artwork from the region of Bahia. Acaraje, however, is typically available outside of the state of Bahia as well, including the markets of Rio de Janeiro.
[edit] In Candomblé
Acarajé is a fixture in the Afro-Brazilian religious traditions of Candomblé. Although it is the ritual food of the goddess Iansan, the first acarajé in a candomblé ritual is offered to Exu.
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