Ackee and Saltfish (Jamaican National Dish)
Buttery ackee fruit scrambled with desalted cod, peppers, and onions. Jamaica's official national dish, a Caribbean breakfast of surprising silkiness.
- Total time:
- 40 min
- Servings:
- 4
- Per serving:
- 320 kcal
- Cost per serving:
- $5.40
- Difficulty:
- medium
Step-by-step
Soak salt cod overnight in cold water (or boil 20 minutes, change water, boil 10 more) to remove salt.
Flake fish, removing skin and bones. Set aside.
Heat oil in a skillet. Sauté onion 4 minutes. Add peppers and tomatoes, cook 5 minutes.
Stir in garlic, scotch bonnet, thyme. Cook 1 minute.
Add flaked saltfish. Toss gently 2 minutes.
Add drained ackee. Fold carefully. do not over-stir, ackee breaks easily. Heat through 3 minutes.
3 min timer
Season with black pepper. Serve with fried dumpling, plantain, or boiled green banana.
Cook's tip
Never use unripe fresh ackee. it is toxic. Canned ackee is processed safely and is the only option for non-Jamaicans.
Storage
Best eaten fresh. Refrigerate 2 days max.
Freezer: Do not freeze.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 320
- Protein
- 22g
- Carbs
- 14g
- Fat
- 22g
- Fiber
- 4g
- Sugar
- 6g
- Sat Fat
- 4g
- Sodium
- 980mg
Estimates based on USDA FoodData Central. See our nutrition disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find canned ackee?
Caribbean grocers, well-stocked supermarkets, or online. Look for brands from Jamaica.
Can I sub the saltfish?
Yes. fresh cod works (skip the desalting step). Smoked haddock is excellent.
Reviews
Marcus B.
1 week ago
First time cooking this and the timing notes saved me. Did not lift the lid once. The crust at the bottom was the best part.
✓ Would make again
Aisha K.
2 weeks ago
Loved it but added an extra scotch bonnet — we like it spicy. Recipe scales well, made a double batch.
✓ Would make again
Tola O.
3 days ago
Made this for Sunday lunch — the smoky bottom turned out perfect. Family demolished the pot in twenty minutes.
✓ Would make again
Reviews shown are illustrative pre-launch. Real user reviews appear here as the community grows.
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