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Solomon Gundy Jamaïcain

A traditional Jamaican dish — Solomon Gundy is the island’s boldest appetizer: smoked or salted mackerel pounded with scotch bonnet, onion and pimento into a fiery, tangy spread.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 15 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Solomon Gundy Jamaïcain - Jamaïcain recipe

A traditional Jamaican dish — Solomon Gundy is the island’s boldest appetizer: smoked or salted mackerel pounded with scotch bonnet, onion and pimento into a fiery, tangy spread. The name comes from a nonsense nursery rhyme the British brought over, but the flavor is pure Jamaica. It is spooned onto crackers or hard-dough bread at parties and sundowner gatherings.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Soak the salted mackerel in cold water for 2 hours, then boil for 10 to 15 minutes until it flakes; drain, cool and pick out all the skin and bones.
  2. Combine the fish, vinegar, onion, scallions, scotch bonnet, thyme, pimento, sugar, oil and black pepper in a food processor.
  3. Pulse into a coarse paste, stopping short of a smooth purée so it keeps a little texture.
  4. Scrape into a bowl, cover and chill for at least 1 hour so the flavors marry.
  5. Serve chilled or at room temperature, mounded on crackers with extra hot pepper on the side.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Taste before adding salt — the fish is salty enough. The heat is up to you: seed the scotch bonnets for a milder spread, or use two for the full effect.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook15 min
Servings6
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →