Ackee and Salt Fish, Take One
Ackee and salt fish is the national dish of Jamaica. Ackee, a tropical fruit indigenous to West Africa and the Caribbean, gives salted cod a flavor you've likely never tasted before. Serve with hard dough bread or dumplings for true Caribbean flavor!
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound salt cod
- 3 tablespoon peanut oil
- 1 large yellow onion, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 plum tomato, chopped (optional)
- 1 19-ounce can ackee or 2 dozen whole fresh ackee
- 1/2 green bell pepper, cored and chopped (optional)
- tabasco, if desired, or diced jalapeno to taste
Instructions
1. Rinse the salt cod, soak it overnight, and drain; simmer in fresh water 10 minutes, cool, flake, and debone if necessary.
2. Heat a large frying pan and add the oil; saute the onion till transparent. Add the peppers and/or tomatoes and the thyme and black pepper and saute till heated through, then add the ackee and toss till hot.
3. Add tabasco if desired, and serve with fried dumplings and/or hard-dough bread.