Black-Eyed Pea Fritters (Printer-Friendly)

Golden, crispy fritters made from mashed black-eyed peas, aromatic onions, and spices. Perfect as a snack or appetizer.

# What You Need:

→ Legumes

01 - 2 cups cooked black-eyed peas, drained

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (optional)

→ Binders

05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

→ Seasonings

07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
10 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

→ For Frying

11 - Vegetable oil, for frying

# How-To Steps:

01 - Mash the cooked black-eyed peas in a large bowl using a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth, leaving some texture for bite.
02 - Add the chopped onion, garlic, parsley or cilantro, eggs, flour, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne. Stir until thoroughly combined and a thick batter forms.
03 - Pour approximately 1/2 inch of vegetable oil into a large skillet and heat over medium setting until shimmering.
04 - Drop heaping tablespoons of batter into the hot oil, flattening slightly with a spoon. Fry without crowding the pan for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
05 - Transfer fritters to paper towel-lined plates to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve warm with desired dipping sauce.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The texture is impossibly crispy outside while staying creamy inside
  • They come together in under 40 minutes with pantry staples
02 -
  • Getting the oil temperature right prevents soggy, greasy fritters
  • Overcrowding the pan causes the oil temperature to drop too quickly
03 -
  • Test your oil temperature by dropping in a small piece of batter first
  • Let fried fritters drain on a wire rack instead of paper towels for maximum crispiness
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