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Acarajé - Brazilian bean fritters

Acarajé is an iconic street food from the Brazilian state of Bahia, rooted in the West African Yoruba cuisine. It is made from black-eyed pea dough shaped into balls and deep-fried in dendê oil (palm oil) until golden. Once split open, they are stuffed with dried shrimp, vatapá paste, and spicy sauce. Acarajé is closely tied to the Afro-Brazilian religion of candomblé, where it serves as an offering to the goddess Iansã.

Acarajé - Brazilian bean fritters
  • Acarajé originates from West African cuisine and was brought to Brazil by enslaved people from present-day Nigeria.
  • Dendê palm oil gives acarajé its characteristic orange color and bold flavor.
  • In 2005, acarajé was recognized as intangible cultural heritage of Brazil.
  • Traditional baianas (female vendors) undergo a ritual preparation process before cooking as part of the candomblé religion.
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