Accras

About This Recipe

Accras are golden, bite-sized fritters bursting with flavor. These beloved Caribbean street snacks can be made with salt cod, shrimp, or vegetables, served hot with spicy sauce. This accras is shaped by the home cooks who refined it across generations, balancing tradition with everyday practicality. Small bites with outsized payoff: crisp edges, soft centers, that addictive savory pull. Home cooks return to it because the technique is forgiving once the order of operations clicks: build aromatics first, season in layers, and let time do the heavy lifting. The result lands somewhere between everyday and special — humble enough for a weeknight, generous enough for company.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 1 cupflour
• 0.5 lbsalt cod, flaked and desalted
• 1 mediumonion, finely minced
• 2 clovesgarlic, minced
• 1 tspbaking powder
• oil for frying as neededvegetable oil

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare cod

   Soak salt cod for 2 hours, drain and flake. Mix with minced onion and garlic.

2. 2

   Make batter

   Combine flour, baking powder, and water to form a thick batter. Fold in cod mixture.

3. 3

   Fry fritters

   Heat oil to 350°F. Drop spoonfuls of batter into oil. Fry 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.

4. 4

   Drain and serve

   Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve hot with hot sauce.

Variations

• •

  Use shrimp instead of salt cod

• •

  Make vegetable accras with corn and peppers

• •

  Add fresh herbs like cilantro

• •

  Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.

Storage

Best served fresh; store 1 day in airtight container

Frequently Asked Questions