Acarajé Sem Leite

Acarajé Sem Leite is a delightful Brazilian street food made from black-eyed peas, deep-fried into crispy balls, and filled with a savory shrimp and vegetable mixture. This dairy-free version maintains the authentic flavors while being suitable for those avoiding dairy.

Ingredients

• black-eyed peas - 200g
• onion - 1 medium, chopped
• garlic - 2 cloves, minced
• green bell pepper - 1 small, chopped
• salt - 1 tsp
• black pepper - 1/2 tsp
• cayenne pepper - 1/4 tsp
• palm oil - 400ml (for frying)
• shrimp - 100g, peeled and deveined
• dendê oil (or olive oil) - 1 tbsp
• coriander - 2 tbsp, chopped
• tomato - 1 medium, diced
• lime - 1, juiced
• lettuce leaves - 2, for serving

Steps

1. Soak the black-eyed peas in water overnight. Drain and rinse them before use.
2. In a food processor, blend the soaked black-eyed peas with half of the chopped onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until smooth.
3. Heat the palm oil in a deep frying pot over medium-high heat.
4. Using a spoon, scoop the black-eyed pea mixture and carefully drop it into the hot oil, frying until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove and drain on paper towels.
5. In a skillet, heat the dendê oil over medium heat. Sauté the remaining onion, green bell pepper, and shrimp until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
6. Add the diced tomato, coriander, and lime juice to the skillet. Stir well and cook for another 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. To serve, cut a slit in the fried acarajé and stuff it with the shrimp mixture. Serve with lettuce leaves on the side.

Nutrition

• Calories: 450
• Protein: 20 g
• Carbs: 55 g
• Fiber: 10 g
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Cholesterol: 150 mg
• Total Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Water: 0.5 L

Health Benefits

• Rich in protein from shrimp and black-eyed peas.
• Contains healthy fats from palm oil, supporting heart health.

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