I love my heritage.
I love where I come from.
Even though I wasn’t born in Jamaica I grew up there and feel a very strong connection to my mother’s home land. My family used to spend Christmases in Jamaica and every morning when we would wake up the kitchen would be smelling so delicious. My cousin and I would race to see who could snag a fried dumpling first. Now you know yours truly would always find a way to win, hehehe. There would be a big ol’ pot of ackee and saltfish simmering and plantains, bammy, fried breadfruit, and dumplings frying.
Oh gosh so many memories! 🙂
No one could make Ackee and Saltfish like my grandma…. That’s why I knew it had to be one of the many dishes I had to conquer when I grew up. I made this Jamaican national dish Christmas morning for my family so we could eat while opening presents, and let me just say, Christmas blessed our house with not only being surrounded by family but also some wonderful goodies as well. 😉 See for yourself…
Grandma I hope this recipe makes you proud! 😉
Directions:
Start off by placing your saltfish in a pot covered with water overnight to sit. This will help get rid of most of its saltiness. Once you wake up the following, morning now your ready to go. Empty out the sitting water and wash off the saltfish. Then add more water submerging the saltfish inside. Place on medium heat and boil until saltfish becomes soft and/ or 20 minutes.
Remove the fish from the water and allow to cool. Then remove all of the bones and skin, then flake the flesh of the fish. Put the flaked fish aside and start with the sauteeing.
Now gather tomatoes, onions, garlic, scallion, and lots and lots of thyme.
Slice the yellow onions. I happen to like a lot of onions in my ackee and saltfish. Some don’t though. you decide on how much you like to slice.
Dice the tomatoes. These juicy tomatoes add such flavor to the dish. I usually chop 3-4 medium sized tomatoes.
Next chop up garlic and lots and lots of thyme. Make sure puling of the leaves from the thyme stems. you can add a few of the entire thyme stems while cooking.
If your brave you can always add a little heat with scotch bonnet. All you need to do is slice up the scotch bonnet thinly and add it to the pot.
I have been known to have a heavy hand when it comes to heat in dishes… well so I’ve been told! I have an iron mouth 😀
In a large dutch pot, or frying pan, melt butter on medium heat and dump all of your chopped ingredients inside. You want to stir-fry all of the ingredients together for 10 minutes.
Next add the flaked saltfish. Add black pepper and salt if needed. At this point you will need o add more vegetable oil to the pot. The saltfish will soak up all that is in there and will turn dry if oil is not added. I always end up needing to add more throughout the cooking process.
** Caution** this dish is an oily dish. So just beware, you do not want it to be dry, hence all of the oil inside.
See definitely needed…. mix it altogether and allow it to come together.
It’s ackee time now… yummmmmmm!
If you are unfortunate to not have your own ackee tree growing in your backyard, like me, then you are subjected to have to purchase a can from one of your fellow specialty markets.
Add the ackee to the pot.
Stir gently to avoid breaking-up the Ackee. You don’t want it to turn into mush.
Add more black pepper ontop and thyme and if you really want to be naughty you can add some chopped bacon on top.
Serve with boiled dumplings, fried dumplings, bammy, plantains, and fried breadfruit.
Enjoy!
PrintAckee and Saltfish Recipe
- Yield: serves 4-6 1x
Ingredients
1/2 lb Saltfish (dried, salted codfish)
12 fresh ackees or 1 (drained) can of tinned ackees
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 medium onion, sliced
3–4 medium sized tomatoes, chopped
4 scallion, chopped
3 tablespoons of butter
1/2 Scotch Bonnet pepper
Salt/ black pepper
Fresh thyme sprigs
Optional:
6 Slices of bacon, cooked and diced
Instructions
Start off by placing your saltfish in a pot covered with water overnight to sit. This will help get rid of most of its saltiness. Once you wake up the following, morning now your ready to go. Empty out the sitting water and wash off the saltfish. Then add more water submerging the saltfish inside. Place on medium heat and boil until saltfish becomes soft and/ or 20 minutes.
Remove the fish from the water and allow to cool. Then remove all of the bones and skin, then flake the flesh of the fish. Put the flaked fish aside and start with the sauteing.
Now gather tomatoes, onions, garlic, scallion, and lots and lots of thyme.
Slice the yellow onions. I happen to like a lot of onions in my ackee and saltfish. Some don’t though. you decide on how much you like to slice.
Dice the tomatoes. These juicy tomatoes add such flavor to the dish. I usually chop 3-4 medium sized tomatoes.
Next chop up garlic and lots and lots of thyme. Make sure puling of the leaves from the thyme stems. you can add a few of the entire thyme stems while cooking.
If your brave you can always add a little heat with scotch bonnet. All you need to do is slice up the scotch bonnet thinly and add it to the pot.
In a large dutch pot, or frying pan, melt butter on medium heat and dump all of your chopped ingredients inside. You want to stir-fry all of the ingredients together for 10 minutes.
Next add the flaked saltfish. Add black pepper and salt if needed. At this point you will need o add more vegetable oil to the pot. The saltfish will soak up all that is in there and will turn dry if oil is not added. I always end up needing to add more throughout the cooking process.
Add the ackee to the pot. Stir gently to avoid breaking-up the Ackee. You don’t want it to turn into mush.
Add more black pepper on top and thyme and if you really want to be naughty you can add some chopped bacon on top.
Serve with boiled dumplings, fried dumplings, bammy, plantains, and fried breadfruit.
Notes
** Caution** this dish is an oily dish. So just beware, you do not want it to be dry, hence all of the oil inside.
My hubby would love me lots and lots and lots if I make this for him. Will have to try to get my hands on some ackee!
Jen, Yes you must… it is one of my favorite dishes, so good! But you must make either dumplings or have hardo bread with it. 😉
I’ve been searching for an authentic Ackee & Saltfish Recipe. Thank you. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Ok so great to hear Shellie… I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! 🙂
Your ackee and saltfish looks delicious, and I love the way you have left your saltfish pieces chunky.
Hi Tasha – Just doing a google search b/c I had a taste for this and guess who’s recipe popped up!?! I hope all is well w/ you and the fam. Looking forward to my ackee & saltfish this weekend…thanks girlie!
lol, Love it! let me know how it goes, hope you enjoy it!
As a chef, I must say this was excellently done. I noticed other people added bell peppers! People, that’s the American thing todo. So, if your looking for the real Jamaican deal……this is it.
Just wanted to comment here that I’ve been making this ackee and saltfish recipe for 8 years now. It’s the only one I follow! BUT..I do add half a red bell pepper and 1/2 zucchini to stretch the recipe because the ackee is so damn expensive here. My boyfriend is Jamaican and I’ve brought this dish to parties and family gatherings and everyone looks around for the Jamaican who made the amazing ackee and they are shocked to see it’s me!
Nicole this makes me so happy to hear that you love this recipe and everyone who is eating it doesn’t even realize its you. Yes add zucchini and red bell pepper, great thinking. If you make it again tag me next time @thatssoyummy or #thatssoyummyrecipes on social media 🙂