Ackee and Saltfish

Side note: This one is also a re-post from my previous blog.

Three days off and home with my fiancé simply means spending serious amount of time in the kitchen making home cooked meals.  That's just the way it is and there's no two ways about it.  So take out, delivery and frozen food...we'll save that for lazy days.  For now, here is what's on our plate for breakfast.

Ackee and Salt Fish w/ Boiled Dumplings.  Say what and salt fish?  Now, I am far from being a food expert and my vocabulary when it comes to describing food is very limited.  The fact that I often fight the urge to use the word "yummy" means I am not the right person to shed some light into the unfamiliar.  Here's a description from a reputable source. 

  

Ackee and Saltfish, Jamaica

Despite ackee’s unhappy origins as slave food, Jamaicans have reclaimed it as part of their national dish. A nutritious fruit with a buttery-nutty flavor, ackee resembles scrambled egg when boiled. Jamaicans sauté the boiled ackee with saltfish (salt-cured cod), onions, and tomatoes. Sometimes the dish is served atop bammy (deep-fried cassava cakes) with fried plantains. 

To make this you'll need:

• 2 cans of Ackee
• 1 lb bag of salt fish (cod or pollock)
• 4 sprigs of thyme (fresh or dry)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp black pepper, salt to taste
• 1 medium onion, 1 small tomato
• 3 tbsp butter
• vegetable oil

scotch bonnet (optional)

Dumplings:  

3 cups of plain flour, 1 cup of water and a tsp salt.  Mix them all together and knead like you would a pizza dough. Boil water in a medium sized pot.  Break off into pieces and form the dough into a flattened biscuit.  Place the pieces into the pot and cook for about 25 mins.  Set aside.

Ackee and Saltfish:

It is very important to soak the salt fish for at least 4 hours or even overnight.  After soaking, boil for 15 mins to get rid of all the salt.  Once cooked, flake the fish using a fork.  Set aside.

Saute garlic, onion, tomato, thyme and salt fish for about 5 mins.  Add butter, scotch bonnet pepper, season with garlic powder and cook for another 5 mins. 

Add Ackee and mix VERY carefully making sure not break it up so much.  Cook for another 10 mins. Season with salt and a generous amount of pepper. And that is it!  Easy.

Yummy! (oops!)

If you find yourself having a difficult time finding canned Ackee in stores you can also buy it online. Here!