Acarajé

Acarajé is a dish popular in parts of western Africa and in the Brazilian state of Bahia. In different parts of Africa the dish is known as akara, kosai or koose. Pealed black-eyed peas are used to make ball-shaped object which are deep-fried. After frying they are cut in half and filled with vatapá and/or caruru.

Vatapá is a creamy dish made of shrimps, bread, coconut milk, grounded peanuts and palm oil. Some people use tuna, turkey or chicken meat instead of shrimp. Caruru is quite similar dish. It includes okra (gumbo), onions, shrimps, nuts (peanuts and/or cashews) and palm oil.

In Bahia acarajé is traditionally sold by female street vendors. These women are known the "baianas". They usually wear a white dress and a headscarf.