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Ackee and Saltfish in a cast iron pan with chopped fresh spring onion sprinkled over the top
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5 from 25 votes

Ackee and Saltfish - Jamaican

Ackee and saltfish is a traditional Jamaican recipe, often served at breakfast or brunch with fried dumplings. Alternatively, serve with rice and peas for dinner.
This recipe will show you how to make ackee and saltfish at home, with step-by-step instructions and pictures.
In the blog post, we have given more advice for suitable substitutes for salt cod, scotch bonnet pepper and seasonings which can be hard to find in the UK and US.
Please note. Cooking time in this card does not include preparing the salt fish; see blog post for a quick method or overnight method to desalt the fish before cooking this recipe. We also give advice if using fresh cod instead.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Jamaican
Keyword: 20 minute meal, ackee and saltfish recipe, ackee and saltfish recipes, aki and saltfish, dry salted cod, how to make ackee and saltfish, jamaica national dish, jamaican ackee and saltfish recipe, jamaican breakfast, jamaican recipe, jamaican saltfish, salt cod, salt fish
Yield: 4 People
Calories: 417kcal
Author: Luke and Kay - Flawless Food

Equipment

Ingredients

Prepare Saltfish ahead - see blog post

  • 200 g Saltfish salt cod
  • Fresh Water

Ackee and Saltfish Recipe

  • 1 tablespoon Coconut / Vegetable / Sunflower Oil
  • 1 small Onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves Garlic finely chopped
  • 2 Spring Onions
  • 3 sprigs Thyme leaves only
  • ½ Scotch Bonnet Pepper Add more if you like it hot
  • 1 Orange Pepper Red or Green can be used
  • 1 large Tomato diced
  • 2 teaspoon Jerk Seasoning or All purpose seasoning
  • 540 grams Canned Ackee (340 grams drained)
  • Black Pepper to taste
  • 1 Lime To Serve

Instructions

How to remove salt from saltfish -

Quick method - see blog post for overnight method.

  • Add cold water and saltfish into a pan, bring to a boil.
    200 g Saltfish, Fresh Water
    Saltfish in a saucepan with cold water being poured over the top
  • Remove water and repeat again with fresh water.
    Fresh Water
    Saltfish being boiled in a saucepan
  • Shred the fish into smaller pieces using two forks.
    Breaking up saltfish with two forks in a black bowl

Ackee and Saltfish

  • In a large pan, over medium heat, fry onions in oil for 4 minutes.
    1 tbsp Coconut / Vegetable / Sunflower Oil, 1 small Onion
    Frying chopped onions in oil in a cast iron pan
  • Add garlic and scotch bonnet pepper with jerk seasoning for 2 minutes
    2 cloves Garlic, ½ Scotch Bonnet Pepper, 2 tsp Jerk Seasoning or All purpose seasoning
    Chopped onions, chopped scotch bonnet chilli in a pan with a teaspoon of jerk seasoning being sprinkled over the top
  • Add orange pepper, tomato and the spring onions, stir through for 2 minutes.
    2 Spring Onions, 1 Orange Pepper, 1 large Tomato
    Chopped onions, chopped scotch bonnet chilli, Sliced orange pepper and chopped spring onion cooking in a pan
  • Add the boiled saltfish, thyme leaves stir through.
    3 sprigs Thyme
    Chopped onions, chopped scotch bonnet chilli, Sliced orange pepper, chopped spring onion, saltfish and fresh thyme on top in a pan
  • Finally add the ackee, stir less often and very gently from now on to stop the ackee breaking up too much.
    540 grams Canned Ackee
    Pouring ackee on top of the saltfish mixture cooking in a pan
  • Serve with rice and peas and topped with extra spring onions, season to taste with black pepper. Add a wedge of lime to serve.
    Black Pepper, 1 Lime
    Ackee and Saltfish served with rice and pea with chopped spring onion on top in a black bowl and in the back ground is ackee and saltfish in a cast iron pan and a bowl of rice and pea

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin C: 97mg