Acaraje came to Brazil from Africa, where it is known as akara and is eaten for breakfast or as street food in Nigeria. (Vincent Bevins / For The Times)
Ana Cassia Pereira sells acaraje in Salvador, Brazil. The snack can also be part of the rituals of Candomble, a Afro-Brazilian religious tradition. (Vincent Bevins / For The Times)
Ana Cassia Pereira, right, makes acaraje, a snack of fried bean patties stuffed with shrimp and spices in Salvador, Brazil. Barbara Pereira Capistrano is on the left. (Vincent Bevins / For The Times)