I miss eating akara elepo
My grandfather loved it, and personally, I was disappointed in him.
My grandfather was pretty particular about the pap he ate; odorless with a hint of ginger and fresh, so he had a pap woman who came bi-weekly to supply him.
This week’s guest loves anime like no one’s business, cooks, and works harder than she needs to. She writes about memories from her childhood and growing up with a (late) grandfather who doted on her. Akara Elepo is her way of preserving that memory. Find her on Instagram and X.
Most Saturday mornings were pap and akara mornings in my grandfather’s house. They were my favorite mornings compared to Oats, bread, eggs, and tea mornings, which usually occurred during the rainy season, but let's not digress.
As similar as the process of making both are, there are subtle differences in the preparation.
I loved eating pap and akara so much that I learned to make pap before my older sister (a great achievement) and later regretted it.
Before I move on, I’d like to say, as someone who knows how to make both pap and custard, that as similar as the process of making both are, there are subtle differences in the preparation.
Good akara never lasts till noon.
My grandfather was pretty particular about the pap he ate; odorless with a hint of ginger and fresh, so he had a pap woman who came bi-weekly to supply him. As for the akara, we purchased it from the woman at Odolowu junction in Surulere. Everyone knows you have to go early, or it’ll be sold out (good akara never lasts till noon).
This particular holiday, my cousins who lived with my grandfather informed us that the akara woman had started to sell akara elepo. My siblings and I squinted in disgust and wondered who would eat that sort of monstrosity. my cousins then claimed that my grandfather loved it, and personally, I was quite disappointed in him. I emphasized they always take a spare warmer so they can put regular akara in one and the “trash” in the other.
I just realized I never explained what Akara Elepo is. If you're Yoruba and reading it, you have a rough idea but if you’re not; Akara Elepo is bean paste fried in palm oil, rather than the conventional groundnut/olive oil.
One Saturday morning, due to us dillydallying and not knowing what we wanted for breakfast, my sister and cousin went to get akara late and the only type of akara left was the abomination the akara woman thought of in her sleep and decided to use her customers as guinea pigs to test out. I fell on my knees!
I stared at my sister, blaming her for even thinking buying that was acceptable. How dare she try to ruin my perfect breakfast. The pap had been made perfectly by me, and she had just one job and that was to get the perfect akara. She failed me!
Unknown to me, she had switched sides! The shock of the betrayal almost sent me spiraling but it tracked. She was close to my grandpa and of course, he had convinced her to try one and she must have loved it.
I was mad because everyone decided to just suck it up and eat it. I was reluctant but to salvage what was left of my beautiful Saturday morning, I decided to take a bite.
What I am about to tell you is what you already guessed……
You see, it wasn't the immediate “Oh, I fell in love with it”, it was a gradual process from, “What even is this?” “Why does it smell like this?” “Why does it taste like this?” “Wait, it’s actually not that bad” “I can totally get behind this”. My sister gave me an “I told you so” grin but I acted like it wasn't that great and it would do for now.
While it isn't my best, original groundnut akara still is, it is not a bad alternative. So, at the end of the day, pap and akara Saturdays were saved and we introduced another member into our perfect family.
Now that we’re done with the side story, let's move on to the main…
Faith: Your time is up though
Me: What do you mean my time is up? I literally just started talking
Faith: But that’s all the time we have for today
Me: Okay, but can I at least copy you and give a song recommendation for the week?
Faith: I’d rather you did not
Me: Fine but here are tips for enjoying akara elepo:
If you can’t fry it yourself, find a vendor.
Ensure your vendor makes it in a clean and safe environment.
Ensure your vendor knows how to balance the bean/salt/pepper/onion ratio. It matters.
Do not buy stale ones and always eat them fresh.
It is an acquired taste so if you do not like it that’s okay. Try as many times as you want or stop trying.
Recommendation:
See you next week.