DISH RESEARCH · Main dish
Ackee and Saltfish
Also known as: Ackee and Salt Fish
Jamaican ackee with salted cod, vegetables and thyme.

About Ackee and Saltfish
Ackee and saltfish is Jamaica’s national dish. This recipe pairs canned ackee with salted cod and a mixture of onion, garlic, tomato and bell pepper.
The fish provides a savoury, salty contrast to the mild ackee. Thyme and black pepper add aromatic warmth, with Scotch bonnet supplying extra heat when included.
Soft, creamy ackee pieces sit among flaked cod and softened vegetables. The source keeps the ackee intact and serves the dish warm; scallion is an optional finishing addition.
Allergens in this recipe
Contains: Fish.
Other allergen details are unconfirmed.
Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.
Ingredients in Ackee and Saltfish
Easy Jamaican Recipes’ traditional ackee and salted cod.
- Canned ackeeBase
- Salted codProtein
- Coconut oilCooking medium
- OnionAromatic
- GarlicAromatic
- TomatoBase
- Scotch bonnet pepperSeasoning · Optional
- Bell pepperBase
- ThymeAromatic
- Ground black pepperSeasoning
- ScallionGarnish · Optional
- WaterLiquid · Saltfish preparation
- SaltSeasoning · Optional
Ingredient details & uncertainties
Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.
- Canned ackee: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader ackee candidate; canned preparation retained
- Salted cod: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Fish source-confirmed
- Coconut oil: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Onion: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Garlic: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Tomato: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Scotch bonnet pepper (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Bell pepper: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Thyme: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Ground black pepper: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Scallion (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Water: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Salt (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Conditional extra seasoning in recipe notes
Origins & food traditions
The recipe describes ackee and saltfish as Jamaica’s national dish and a meal eaten at several times of day.
Countries
- Jamaica
- JamaicaCatalogue link pending review
Cuisines & regions
- Jamaican cuisine
- Jamaican CuisineCatalogue link pending review
AI-generated illustration of one possible presentation. Recipes and ingredients vary; the image does not establish allergen content.