A traditional Jamaican dish — Ackee and Saltfish is the national breakfast, a golden scramble of buttery ackee and flaked salted cod that Jamaicans have eaten since the 1700s. The ackee, a tropical fruit that turns silky when cooked, soaks up the smoky saltfish and sharp island seasonings. It is always served with fried dumplings, boiled green bananas or roasted breadfruit.
Ackee and Saltfish
A traditional Jamaican dish — Ackee and Saltfish is the national breakfast, a golden scramble of buttery ackee and flaked salted cod that Jamaicans have eaten since the 1700s.

Step by stepInstructions
- Rinse the saltfish and soak it in cold water for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight, to remove excess salt, then drain.
- Place the saltfish in a pot, cover with fresh water and boil for 15 to 20 minutes; drain, cool slightly and flake, removing any skin and bones.
- Heat the oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the onion, scallions, thyme and pimento seeds until the onion softens, about 3 minutes.
- Add the tomato and scotch bonnet and cook for 2 minutes, then stir in the flaked saltfish and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Gently fold in the ackee, taking care not to mash it, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until heated through.
- Season with black pepper, taste for salt — the saltfish is usually salty enough — and serve hot with fried dumplings or boiled green bananas.
💡 Chef tips & storage
Handle the ackee gently; it should stay in soft whole lobes, not turn to mush. Canned ackee is the safe, convenient choice outside Jamaica — fresh ackee must be fully ripe and parboiled before eating.

Join the conversation
Only members can comment — it takes a few seconds to create a free account.
Log in Create an account