1 c. black eye peas
1 sm. onion
Cold water, the amount of water depends on how set the mixture is after blending
Salt to taste
Oil for frying

The skin has to be removed from the beans (peas). The easy way to do this is to put the beans in a blender with water on low/medium speed. This breaks the peas into pieces and separates the skin out.

Use your hands to rub the beans together in a bowl of water and remove the skins (should not take more than 5 minutes. It's easy!).

Grind the crushed peas in a blender until it is a smooth paste, avoid too much water. Do not make the mixture watery. Add the onion blended or chopped. Beat with a wooden spoon to make the bean mixture lighter and to incorporate air.

Continue beating until the mixture is light and will drop fairly easily when shaken from a spoon. Add salt to taste. Take a little of the mixture at a time with a spoon and fry in hot oil.

If a frying pan is used the shape will be flat. If deep fryer is used it will be ball shaped. About 6 or 8 Akara balls per round of frying. Akara balls are ready when golden in color (3 to 4 minutes). Serve hot.