Well folks, here it is. Many of you tasted the Ottammari bean balls I made at last year’s mission rally in Michigan. I also brought them to my home church and a few other places. So many of you have asked me how to make bean balls that I am going to give you the recipe.

You need bean flour, onions, garlic, salt, oil, and fresh red hot pepper for sauce. In a mixing bowl, mix bean flour with enough water to make a batter about like cake batter—thick but still easy to pour. Beat it well with a wire whisk or use your hand. Hands work best because the batter can be a little stiff.

Add a bunch of minced onions and garlic and salt to taste.

Beat the mixture some more. You want to beat air into it so it will puff in the hot oil. The bean flour tends to soak up water, so add more water if the batter gets too thick.

Heat three or four inches of oil in a pot. As the oil heats, whip more air into the batter. When the oil gets hot, you can start dropping the batter into the oil, either with a spoon or with your hand. Yes, believe it or not, that is how they do it in Benin—by hand. Just make sure not to touch the hot oil!

The bean balls should fry about three minutes, otherwise the onions won’t cook. When a ball is brown on one side, flip it over. When it is done, scoop it out with a fork and drain it on a paper towel.

For the sauce, grind up some hot red pepper and chop some onion into it. Salt to taste and you have the sauce. Enjoy your Ottammari bean balls!

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