Jamaican
Jamaican Ackee and Saltfish
Jamaica national dish — canned ackee folded into salted codfish sautéed with onions, Scotch bonnet, and tomatoes. A breakfast plate that ...
⏱ Prep 15 min 🍳 Cook 25 min 👥 Serves 4 Moderate
Ingredients
Spices & Herbs
♦300g salted codfish (soaked overnight, boiled, and flaked)
♦1 Scotch bonnet pepper (seeded, minced)
♦2 tbsp WOS All Purpose Seasoning
♦2 tbsp cooking oil
♦Black pepper to taste
Other
♦1 can ackee (drained)
♦1 onion (sliced)
♦2 cloves garlic (minced)
♦2 tomatoes (chopped)
♦2 stalks scallion
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Boil saltfish 20 min to remove excess salt. Drain, cool, and flake into pieces.
2
Heat oil in a skillet over medium. Sauté onion and scallion 3-4 min until soft.
3
Add garlic and Scotch bonnet. Cook 1 min.
4
Add tomatoes and cook until they break down, about 5 min.
5
Add flaked saltfish and WOS All Purpose Seasoning. Stir and cook 3 min.
6
Gently fold in drained ackee. Be gentle — ackee breaks easily.
7
Cook 3-4 min until everything is heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning.
8
Serve with fried dumplings, boiled green banana, or hard dough bread.
Flavor Education
Understanding what each spice contributes is the difference between following a recipe and truly cooking.
Salt
Enhances and balances all other flavors in the dish
Salt doesn't just make food salty — it suppresses bitterness and amplifies sweetness and savoriness.
Black Pepper
Mild warmth and aromatic pungency
Freshly cracked pepper is dramatically more aromatic than pre-ground. The difference is noticeable.
Cooking Tips by Skill Level
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Season lightly first — you can always add more, but you can't take it away. Taste at every step and trust your palate.
Build your flavor in layers: bloom your dry spices in oil for 30 seconds before adding liquids to unlock their full depth.
Finish with a hit of acid (lime, lemon, or vinegar) right before serving to brighten and balance the entire dish.
🧂 Spices for This Recipe
These seasonings help you achieve the authentic flavor profile of this dish.
All Purpose Seasoning
In Stock
$8.99
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Haitian Pikliz
caribbean · jerk · pickle · spicy
In Stock
$12.99
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Caribbean Jerk Rub
jerk · chicken · caribbean · bbq · grill
In Stock
$9.99
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Scotch Bonnet Hot Sauce
hot · pepper · sauce · caribbean
In Stock
$10.99
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Jerk Seasoning Blend
In Stock
$10.99
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