Ackee and Saltfish

When visiting Jamaica one of the must-try dish is the national dish Ackee and Saltfish.

Ackee is a Jamaican fruit (fruit in the same way that tomato and avocado are fruits) that arrived in Jamaica from Ghana in the early 1700s. The fruit grows in abundance and the locals love it. Ackee and saltfish is cooked up in one pot with tomatoes, onions and, of course, chilli and spices; and there’s as much chance that you’ll find this dish served at breakfast as you’ll find it at dinner however it’s traditionally known as a breakfast dish for a Saturday morning’s. It is usually served alongside breadfruit, hard dough bread, dumplings, fried plantain, festivals or boiled green bananas. Ackee and Saltfish can also be eaten with rice and peas or plain white rice.

What is Ackee? Ackee is a pear-shaped fruit that is found in warm climates. As the ackee fruit ripens, it turns from green to bright red to yellow-orange, and splits open to reveal three large, shiny black seeds, each partly surrounded by soft, white to yellow flesh.

The dish is pretty easy to make, have a go at this recipe and let me know what you think.

Ingredients:

• ½-pound salt fish

• fresh ackee soaked, or tinned ackee

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 1 small sweet pepper (yellow/red or green), julienned (bell pepper)

• 1 medium tomato, chopped

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon scotch bonnet pepper, chopped finely (omit if you don’t want the dish spicy)

• 2 stalks scallion, chopped (spring onion)

• 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 1.Put saltfish to soak in cold water for about 1 hour.

2.Pour off water; add fresh water and boil until tender.

3. De-bone and flake the saltfish.

4. Heat oil and sauté onion, garlic, scallions, tomatoes, scotch bonnet pepper and sweet pepper until tender, about five to six minutes.

5. Add flaked saltfish, fresh or canned ackee and black pepper.

6. Toss lightly; cover and allow to stand over low heat for about 2 minutes.

You can also buy Ackee in can’s if your not able to get the fresh ones. (One of the many can brands)