Accra Cassava (Cameroonian Cassava Fritters)

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds grated cassava (can be frozen and thawed)
  • 4 large, overly ripe bananas (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon or more of salt
  • A good amount of vegetable oil

Steps

  1. 1

    Squeeze the grated cassava using a kitchen cloth or cheesecloth (like the one used for preparing homemade pap) to remove as much liquid as possible. The cassava should be very dry with little liquid.

  2. 2

    Mash the bananas well using a fork, masher, or food processor.

  3. 3

    Add the cassava and salt to the mashed banana in a medium sized bowl, and mix them together very well. The mixture should be firm enough that it can be rolled into balls.

  4. 4

    Use your palms to roll about 2 tablespoons of the mixture into bite-size balls.

  5. 5

    Heat the vegetable oil to 375 °F in a deep skillet or a saucepan. You can check the oil temperature by dropping in a 1-inch square of bread—it should take about 1 minute to brown.

  6. 6

    Place the cassava balls gently into the hot oil and fry until golden brown. Do not overcrowd the pan—work in batches as necessary.

  7. 7

    Remove the fritters from the hot oil, drain, and serve fresh.