Black-Eyed Pea Fritters with Hot Pepper Sauce

Crispy, savory fritters made with black-eyed peas, peanuts, and aromatic seasonings, fried until golden brown and served with spicy pepper sauce. These African-inspired fritters combine the earthiness of black-eyed peas with the warmth of cayenne and fresh herbs.

6 servings
1 hr 48 min

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried black-eyed peas, sorted, soaked overnight, drained, and rinsed
  • ½ medium onion
  • ½ cup raw peanuts
  • 1 teaspoon minced thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • ½ cup finely chopped green bell pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cornmeal
  • 5 cups coconut oil

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    • Remove the skins from the beans by adding them to a large bowl, filling the bowl with water, agitating the beans, and fishing out the skins that float to the top with a fine mesh strainer. Rinse beans well.

    10 min

  2. 2.

    • In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine the beans, onion, peanuts, thyme, cayenne, vinegar, water, and salt and pulse until completely smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

    60 min

  3. 3.

    • Preheat the oven to 200° F.

    5 min

  4. 4.

    • Remove the batter from the refrigerator, add the bell pepper and cornmeal, and beat with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes.

    2 min

  5. 5.

    • In a medium-size saucepan over high heat, warm the coconut oil until hot but not smoking, about 5 minutes.

    5 min

  6. 6.

    • Lower the oil to medium high, and in batches of 5, spoon the batter into the oil, 1 tablespoon at a time. Fry, stirring around, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. If necessary, adjust the temperature to ensure that the fritters do not cook too quickly.

    20 min

  7. 7.

    • Transfer the fritters to a paper towel-lined plate and allow them to drain. Transfer the drained fritters to a baking sheet and place in the oven to keep warm.

    5 min

  8. 8.

    • Serve hot with Hot Pepper Sauce .

    1 min