Akara toasties

So, on the back of Akara Waffles (recipe HERE), which has been tried to much success by so many people. I have now updated the post to show some of the pictures I received. We now have a new sister twist to Akara waffles, called  Akara toasties, that in my opinion has taken up the Nigeria Cooking Social media space by storm. Over 1K likes on Facebook, Wow!!!!!! Thanks a lot guys. 2015 is turning out to be a good year for experimenting and food innovation. #theministryismoving. I have been asked the same questions all over again about making Akara in a Sandwich maker. Someone did ask me how I do it with all these questions, and in these days of screenshots, one has to be very careful how one responds, so I said the truth really. It all boils down to it comes with the territory of being a food blogger. So, I am creating a post of how to make Akara in a sandwich maker. This answers ALL your questions and any question from henceforth will be directed to this page. It is a good innovation, brilliant actually, but if you have ever used a sandwich maker before, it is easy to figure out. If not, it is still easy to figure out. For all those who have tried it and sent me your pictures, thank you oh so very much because without you, I wouldn’t have pictures to post as I am going to have to dig out my sandwich maker, and when I do, I will be making an Instagram video of it, so don’t forget to follow @dooneyskitchen on Instagram.

Top 25 Questions I have been asked. Get your pen and paper and start taking notes. Lol

1. Is it the same beans used for Akara you made this with – Yes
2. Do I have to grease the inner bits before I pour the mixture in – Yes
3. Do I have to close the sandwich maker – Yes, to allow the top bits cook
4. Am I supposed to remove the plug from the socket after pouring the mixture in – REALLY???
5. Where can I buy a Sandwich maker and how much is it – any big electrical goods store
6. But it looks like Moin Moin not Akara – give it a few more minutes to brown, and you will no longer be in doubt
7. Won’t it “shock” me – if it does, it has nothing to do with the akara mixture, your device is bad
8. Recipe please – peel beans, blend with a little water, add chop onions and pepper, season and fry, or in this case pour into a greased sandwich maker
9. Do I have to turn it – No
10. Must the machine be hot before I pour the mixture in – Yes
11. Can any sandwich maker do this – sure
12. How many minutes will it take – it depends on your sandwich maker, it shouldn’t take that long though
13. What does it taste like – like Akara
14. Can I bake this instead – probably, but it would definitely be moin moin, or bean cakes
15. Can I put eggs in Akara – sure, I have seen people do it
16. Mine was sticking to the pan, what went wrong. Likely one of two things, not well-greased pan, or your mixture was not thick enough. That happened to me too at first, until I thickened the mixture, and the good results I have seen, the mixture was thick like proper akara mixture.
17. Can I use beans flour to make this – Yes
18. What can I use to thicken my mixture – either beans flour, or blend a very thick batch of peeled beans and add to your watery mixture
19. Will my husband like it – ask him
20. You are taking innovation too far, don’t you think – so said the person typing on a mobile phone with internet facilities created by the white man who thinks of limitless possibilities. Enough said.
21. What other things can I do with my sandwich maker – you can make pancakes with it, you can also bake with it
22. What can I grease the sandwich maker with – butter, veg oil, margarine
23. Can I put oil in the akara mixture – if you wish
24. I don’t like peeling beans but I want to try this – you can peel beans in your blender (process HERE) or Food Processor (click HERE)
25. Can I put other toppings in it like crayfish, pepper, meat, fish – Yes

I had to sneak one more in. I don’t have a Sandwich maker, I really want to try this new revolution with Akara without deep-frying. You can make this in a frying pan with less than a tablespoon of oil, like you would a pancake. I posted this recipe in Dec 2013, and it is catching on now. Never too late eh? My friend Vivian calls it The Pankara (recipe HERE). See testimonial pictures below

From Jossy

From Dupe

From Dedun

Someone even rolled it up, but she added eggs to the batter. I have tried to search for your picture to reference you, so if you see this please drop a comment and I will update the post with your name

Now, back to Akara Toasties. here are testimonial pictures

1. As you can see with this picture from Tonia, the akara mixture is thick, she also added toppings, and she must have greased her pan well because the akara toasties came out fine.

 2. Picture courtesy – Aderonke – see, no sticking. left for longer, it would have been browner and crispy

3. A well browned version from Love. How pretty is that?

3. Even browner, courtesy Freda

I have gotten so many pictures since yesterday, too many to post before this post becomes boring, but you get the gist now. Thank you so very much to all the people who have tried this. I hope this inspires you to try again if you were not successful the first time, and I also hope it inspires, those who haven’t tried it before. I also have testimonies from readers, to share about by Moin Moin Omelette now fondly called The Moin Moinlette. Click HERE to see the pictures