Ackee and Saltfish

Method

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1. Drain the soaked cod, cover with fresh water, bring to the boil and simmer 15 minutes. Drain, and taste a flake — if it is still too salty, repeat with fresh water for 10 minutes.

   Mark done Start 10 min timer

2. Cool the fish, then remove any skin and bones and flake it into large pieces.

   Mark done

3. Heat the oil in a wide frying pan and cook the onion and both peppers over medium heat for 8 minutes until softened.

   Mark done Start 8 min timer

4. Add the garlic, scotch bonnet, thyme and allspice and cook 2 minutes.

   Mark done

5. Add the tomatoes and cook 4 minutes until they slump.

   Mark done

6. Add the flaked saltfish and the spring onions and toss for 3 minutes to heat through.

   Mark done Start 3 min timer

7. Add the drained ackee on top and fold it through with a spatula in two or three gentle movements only.

   Mark done

8. Cover and warm through for 3 minutes without stirring again.

   Mark done Start 3 min timer

9. Season with black pepper — it should need no salt at all — remove the thyme stalks, and serve with fried dumplings or plantain.

   Mark done

Chef’s Tips

• Fold the ackee, do not stir it. It breaks down into a paste within seconds of vigorous mixing.
• Taste the cod after boiling. Salt levels vary hugely between brands and soaking times.
• Only ever use tinned ackee or fruit prepared by someone who knows what they are doing; unripe ackee is genuinely toxic.

Common Substitutions & Variations

• Out of spring onions? A small regular onion, finely sliced, or a few chives stirred in at the end both cover the job.
• An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.

Pairing Suggestions

• Fried dumplings or boiled green banana
• Fried plantain
• Blue Mountain coffee or a cold Ting

Storage & Reheating

Best eaten immediately. Refrigerate up to 2 days; reheat very gently as the ackee will break down further.

Common questions

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.