Steemit Engagement Challenge / S19W4 - "My City Special Bites"

Hello Friends ♥️!

Most of you here already know me but for introduction's sake, I'm Goodybest from Nigeria and I live in the small beautiful city of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Uyo is the capital of my state when it comes to culinary skills most of our indigenes have it, I mean we have a variety of food and more than a thousand and one ways to prepare them, yes we are blessed! Well the thing is that if I want to speak about them one by one I will be too wordy and this page may not contain it, so I've chosen to write about one of our favorites, mostly sold by street vendors across the city and it's nonother than~ "AKARA"

^Akara

Akara is my city's special bite, and it is a popular street food. It's a deep-fried local snack made from black-eyed beans. It's simple and easy to make Akara, and it's a staple food for Most of us here and even the tourists. Akara is special to us because it's not only a delicious but nutritious snack that can be enjoyed any time of the day, be it as a breakfast meal, afternoon snack, or dinner. The snack is very rich in protein, fiber, Vitamins, and minerals. It is gluten-free, making it an ideal snack for people who are allergic to gluten or gluten intolerant.

^{My breakfast with Akara and pap}

To be very sincere with you I can't make this delicious snack by myself, though it's my favorite and I eat it at least 4 times a week. But the process of making it is very simple, the thing is that I couldn't just get the texture of the street vendors. To make it, one has to select the beans, wash and soak them for a few hours, and then blend the beans into a smooth paste. The paste is then mixed with some spices like fresh peppers, salt, and onions. After that, you deep-fried the mixture in hot oil until crispy and golden brown.

A few things I like about Akara is that it is an affordable snack that can be found easily on my city's streets. The snack is accessible to everyone regardless of their socio-economic background and status and it's easy to prepare, you only need a few ingredients, which makes it an excellent choice for those who love cooking but don't want to spend much time in the kitchen.

^{Enjoying my akra with bread and pap with my family}

Another thing I love about Akara is its versatility. It can be eaten in many ways; alone or served with other foods, such as bread, custard, pap, plantains, french 🍟 or yams. It can also be used as a filling for sandwiches or wraps, adding a unique flavor and texture to the dish.

It is our favorite, people of all ages enjoy it, even my baby loves it so much, what about tourists who visit our city? They loved it! Most people including me enjoy buying it from street vendors and sometimes I eat it on the go! Some restaurants and eateries in my city normally serve it as a snack or appetizer on their menu. Akara is part of Uyo city's culture, yes it's more than a snack, it's our heritage!

^{me after enjoying my favorite snack Akara}

Oh my, I've been praising my city's special bite, does it mean it has no weakness? Nay one thing about Akara is its high-calorie content, and it's an oily snack that can be high in cholesterol if consumed in large amounts. People who are watching their calorie intake should eat it in small quantities also people with diabetes and high blood pressure too.

In conclusion, Akara is a special bite that is unique to my city. We love it because it's a delicious and nutritious snack. Akara is affordable, versatile, and easy to prepare. However, its high-calorie content which may not be good for some people. Despite this, Akara remains an essential part of the city's culture and heritage, and I am proud to have it as part of my city's rich culinary history.

I would like my friends @ngoenyi @bossj23 and @shiftitamanna to join this contest.