ackee and saltfish

Ackee and Saltfish is Jamaica's National Dish. I don't think you can go anywhere on the island that they do not cook it. I remember speaking to someone who claimed they did not like Ackee. It was like "WHAT?" you don't like Ackee? Somehow that was foreign to me.

Served with some fried dumplings, yummy.

The following recipe is from http://www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/

Ackee and Saltfish Recipe

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to prepare enough ackee and saltfish for 4 people:-

1/2 lb Saltfish (dried, salted codfish)
12 fresh ackees or 1 (drained) can of tinned ackees
1 medium onion
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp of butter
1/2 a hot chilli pepper (ideally Scotch Bonnet)
1 sweet pepper
1 chopped tomato
1 sprig fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme


Optional ingredients:-
2 cloves of garlic
4 Scallion (or spring onions)
6 Slices of bacon

Preparation

Cover the saltfish in cold water. Let soak overnight (minimum 8 hours) changing the water several times (this removes most of the salt)









Bring a pan of cold water to the boil and gently simmer the fish for 20 minutes (until the fish is tender).









Chop the onion, sweet pepper, chilli pepper and tomato.










Remove the fish from water and allow to cool.
Remove all of bones and skin then flake the flesh of the fish.

Cooking

Melt the butter in a frying pan and stir fry the onion, black pepper, sweet pepper, chilli and thyme for about 3 minutes.









Add the tomatoes and flaked fish and stir-fry for another 10 minutes










Add the Ackee and cook until hot throughout. Stir gently to avoid breaking-up the Ackee

Serving

Serve with yam, green banana, fried dumplings and Irish potato











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