Jamaica // Ackee and Saltfish

Ackee and salt fish is the national dish of Jamaica. It is made with salted codfish and the national fruit ackee. Traditionally the dish is served for breakfast on Christmas morning although it is eaten all year round.

Ingredients

• 1packet boneless salted cod.
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil.
• 1 medium onion finely chopped.
• 4 gloves garlic finely chopped.
• 3 spring thinly sliced.
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper, deseeded and finely chopped (you can half his dependent on taste
• A few sprigs of thyme. 
• ¼ tsp of black pepper or add according to your desired taste.
• 1 tsp ground pimento (allspice).
• ½ red pepper deseeded and finely chopped.
• ½ green pepper deseeded and finely chopped.
• 1 large tomato, chopped.
• 1 can ackee, drained.

Method

1. Put the salt cold in your pot and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then boil for 5 minutes, drain, and add fresh cold water to cover.
2. Repeat this process until you’re happy with the saltiness when tasted; approximately boil the fish three times in total to get a good balance of salt in the fish. Drain and leave to cool. Use a fork to shred the salted cod into pieces and set aside.
3. In a medium to large frying pan. Pour the vegetable oil into the frying pan and place over a high heat. Once the oil is sizzling hot, turn the heat down to low-medium. Add the onion, garlic, spring onions and scotch bonnet, then cook until soft, for around 5-7 minutes.
4. Add the salted cod, put in black pepper, thyme, and pimento, then mix it together and cook down for around 3 minutes.
5. Next, add in the red and green bell peppers, along with your tomato. Mix and cook -3 minutes. These ingredients help to bring a heat balance, so it’s not too spicy.
6. Gently stir in the ackee; the ackee is soft so it’s important to stir it in gently so the ackee does not “mash”.
7. Once stirred in, simmer for 3-5 minutes before serving.

Ackee and saltfish when eaten for breakfast can be severed with several sides such as fried /boiled dumpling, callaloo, breadfruit, boiled banana, or hard dough bread.