Akara

Akara are a popular street food in Senegal (and really all over West Africa). They're usually served with kani, a type of hot sauce. The ginger in these versions isn't typical but I like ginger so there you have it.

Akara
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups cooked black eyed peas
1 large egg
About half an onion, chopped
1 inch knob of ginger, peeled and chopped (optional)
1 small jalapeño chili, chopped
Pinch of  salt
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup cornmeal
Vegetable oil, for frying

Directions
1) Blend the black eyed peas, egg, onion, ginger, jalapeño, and salt in food processor or blender until smooth.
2) Stir in the breadcrumbs.
3) Roll spoonfuls of the mixture into balls and coat with the cornmeal.
4) Heat the oil in a pan and fry the black eyed pea cakes.
5) Put them on kitchen towels to absorb some of the excess oil.
6) Et them with the kani sauce.

Tip: You can make these and roll them in the cornmeal a few hours before you cook them if you keep them in the fridge.

Kani
Ingredients
3 diced tomatoes
2 cloves garlic
Half of an onion, chopped
1 small jalapeño chili, chopped
1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped (optional)
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Directions
1) Blend everything but the oil in a food processor or blender until it's smooth.
2) Cook the sauce in the vegetable oil until it has thickened (about 5 minutes).