Akara [beans cake] and ogi [ corn papa] are two meal items that people love to combine. They are great as breakfast for persons who love fries.
However, there is so much about Akara that makes us give it a second thought when it comes to mind as meal.
Some of these concerns we addressed in this article will help minimise health concerns.
For us, Akara is not so much of a healthy food and this is because when you fry things, oil could heat to smoking point.
But if you love it and need to eat it, here are things you should do.
1. Extract The Oil In Your Akara
It is necessary that you extract the oil in your beans cake after frying it.
We recommend this because studies show that fat from oil could increase cholesterol level (1).
According to studies, the quality of dietary oils and fats has been widely recognised to be inextricably linked to the pathogenesis of Cardiovascular Diseases.
A study says “the benefits of vegetable oil can be deteriorated by repeated heating that leads to lipid oxidation (2).
While you are sure of the oil you use at home, you are not sure of the one the road-side seller uses.
The truth is that some of them reuse the same oil used the previous day and that exposes you to danger. The oil is exposed to lipid oxidation.
Another study also emphasis that lipid oxidation can trigger cardiovascular disease (3).
As a result, you need to remove the oil as much as possible. Extracting it will reduce the amount of fat you get from this meal and the trouble it will cause.
To extract the oil, get a serviette and place the Akara in between and then press with your palm.
This will remove the amount of oil that is in the beans cake and lower the health risk that could come from it.
2. Fry With Low Heat
If you fry your Akara by yourself, ensure that you fry with low heat. Also, do not reuse the oil.
Frying with low heat helps ensure that the oil does not get to smoking point as you fry.
With low heat, it is safer for you.
3. Try Alternative Preparation
If you find going through the extraction process a difficult task, look the way of alternatives.
To make Akara safe for consumption, you should try alternative ways of preparing it.
One is to bake it, using oven. That way you use very little oil which you will rub on the baking pan.
Our Article On Bitter Kola: Things You Should Know Before You Eat It Will Also Be Helpful
This helps control the amount of oil that comes with the Akara.
You can also prepare your moi-moi with the paste you made after grinding the beans and get better benefit.
The truth is that you do not need to fry Akara to enjoy it. You can explore this alternatives and make your meal healthier. The