National Dish Burkina Faso: Accras de Morue (Recipe)
In this article
Discover Accras de Morue, the crisp little cod fritters that West Africa has taken thoroughly to heart. Golden on the outside, light and fluffy within, they carry the gentle heat of fresh chillies and the bright lift of parsley. In Burkina Faso they turn up wherever people gather — at weddings, at festivals, or simply as a moreish snack shared over a cold drink. They are far easier to make than their reputation suggests.
About Accras de Morue
Accras de Morue are hugely popular fish fritters with their roots in West African cooking. In Burkina Faso they are especially well loved and are often served at celebrations and festivals. These fritters are not only delicious but also genuinely straightforward to prepare. They are built around cod, combined with a handful of spices and an airy batter base, which is what gives them their distinctive flavour and their unmistakable texture.
Ingredients (serves 1–2)
- 200 g cod (boned and chilled)
- 100 g plain flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 1 egg
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1–2 chillies, finely chopped, to taste
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for frying
Shopping for the ingredients
To gather the ingredients for accras de morue, head for a well-stocked supermarket or an African grocery. Cod is often available in the freezer section when fresh fish is not to be had. Choose fresh herbs and spices wherever you can, as they do most of the work in building the aroma of the fritters. Gluten-free flour is now widely stocked, so people with an intolerance can enjoy this dish too — much as they can with the naturally gluten-free Beignets de Haricot.
Preparing the dish
Before you start cooking the accras, it pays to get everything ready. Rinse the cod thoroughly and cut it into small pieces. Finely chop the onion, the chillies and the parsley so that everything blends evenly through the batter. Set out the equipment you will need as well — a bowl for the batter and a deep pan for frying — so the cooking runs smoothly from start to finish.
Step-by-step instructions
- Put the cod in a bowl and flake it apart with a fork.
- Add the finely chopped onion, chillies and parsley.
- In a separate bowl, mix the egg with the flour and baking powder.
- Work the cod mixture into the batter and combine everything thoroughly.
- Heat the oil in a pan and drop in small spoonfuls of the batter.
- Fry the fritters until golden brown and crisp, then drain them on kitchen paper.
Gluten-free / lactose-free version
For a gluten-free version of accras de morue, use gluten-free flour, which substitutes one-for-one in most recipes. The method stays exactly the same, and you can enjoy these fish fritters without a second thought. If lactose is the concern, this recipe is already lactose-free, provided you check that none of your ingredients contain dairy. That makes accras de morue an ideal dish for a wide range of dietary needs.
Tips for vegans and vegetarians
Although accras de morue are traditionally made with fish, you can create a vegan version by replacing it with mashed beans or tofu. Both are nutritious and give the fritters a good texture. To get the flavour where it needs to be, be generous with the spices and herbs — the same principle that carries the bean-based Ragoût de Haricots. The recipe adapts easily to suit vegetarians and vegans alike.
More tips and tricks
One of the most important points when making accras de morue is to let the oil get properly hot before the batter goes in. If the oil is not hot enough, the fritters turn greasy and soggy rather than crisp. Fry them in small batches, too, so they cook evenly and the oil keeps its temperature. Serve them fresh and warm, when their aroma is at its fullest.
Adapting the recipe to your taste
The recipe for accras de morue can be varied in all sorts of ways. Add different spices to deepen the flavour, or work in extra ingredients such as sweetcorn or peppers. For a hotter version, use more chillies or try different varieties. Do not be shy about experimenting with the mix until you land on your own favourite version.
Ingredient substitutions
If a particular ingredient is not to hand, there is no cause for alarm. Instead of cod you might use another fish such as salmon or halibut — or take the fresher route of Grilled Tilapia. For a vegetarian take, try quinoa or rice in place of the fish. The flexibility of the recipe means there is nearly always an alternative that tastes just as good.
Drink pairing ideas
Accras de morue go best with refreshing drinks that cut through the savoury richness of the fritters. A cold pale lager or a lively white sangria both work beautifully. For alcohol-free options, serve a fruity iced tea, a homemade lemonade or the deep red hibiscus infusion of Jus de Bissap. Any of these rounds out the meal nicely.
Serving and presentation ideas
Presentation can make a real difference to how accras de morue are enjoyed. Serve the fritters on an attractive plate and garnish with fresh herbs or a lightly spiced sauce. A well-chosen dipping sauce — garlic or chilli mayonnaise, for example — lifts the whole thing further. A carefully arranged plate will surprise and please your guests all the more.
A bit of history
Accras de morue have a long history in West African cooking and stand as evidence of the culinary exchange between Europe and Africa. The name accra most likely comes from Akan, an ethnic group in Ghana, and describes a form of fried dough. The use of salt cod traces back to trade and colonial history, when fishermen introduced the fish to the region. Today accras are a firm fixture of Burkinabè cuisine and are prepared in many different variations.
More recipe ideas
Summary: Accras de Morue
In short, accras de morue are a delicious and versatile dish enjoyed in Burkina Faso and well beyond its borders. They are simple to make and easy to adapt, which suits them equally to special occasions and to everyday snacking. Give the recipe a try and let the flavours and the history of these traditional fish fritters win you over.
