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Saltfish

Saltfish is fish preserved with salt and commonly rehydrated and cooked in savory dishes.

Saltfish — illustrative ingredient image

About Saltfish

Saltfish is fish preserved with salt, usually referring to a product later rinsed or rehydrated and cooked. It identifies a preparation rather than a single species, cut, or curing method, so products may consist of fillets, split fish, pieces, or flakes. It is used in savoury dishes, often after soaking to moderate salt and restore moisture.

The fish is generally firmer and drier than fresh fish, with texture ranging from leathery or dense to tender and flaky after soaking and cooking. Its flavour is concentrated, briny, and distinctly marine. Moisture and texture therefore depend substantially on the product form and preparation.

Flesh may be pale, cream, grey, or brownish, with skin and bones retained in some forms. Saltfish may be sold dry, semi-dry, or packed in salt. Rinsing, soaking, and cooking soften or rehydrate it, change the surface saltiness, and make it suitable for incorporation into savoury dishes.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where saltfish appears

2 linked foods

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Main dishes

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for saltfish

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Saltfish

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Saltfish nutrition & diet

Saltfish nutritional value

Reference: Fish, dried, salted

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
184kcal
Protein
42.0g
Carbs
0.0g
Fat
1.5g

Official national food-composition reference. The displayed food form is part of the estimate; cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

The term identifies a preservation style rather than a single species. Establish the fish, edible cut, dry or brined form, and whether it is soaked, rinsed, boned, flaked, or cooked. Evaluate the fish separately from stews, fritters, sauces, or vegetables prepared with it.

Compare the right form: Match saltfish only after confirming species, cut, cure, and preparation state, including soaked, rinsed, boned, flaked, or cooked form.

Diet considerations

Saltfish is animal-derived fish, but its species and formulation are unspecified. Compatibility changes with added fish or shellfish, dairy, egg, oil, sauces, and cereal ingredients in fritters or dumplings. Product labels and recipes should establish the exact identity; the generic name does not support a universal dietary classification.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically incompatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically incompatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    May be compatible
  • Paleo
    May be compatible
  • Low-carb
    May be compatible
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically incompatible
The ingredient profile identifies an animal-derived food or derivative.
Vegetarian · Typically incompatible
The profile identifies animal flesh, seafood or a derivative excluded by a vegetarian diet.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
Seafood fits this pescatarian definition. Added meat-based stock or other ingredients would need checking separately.
Keto · May be compatible
The plain form may fit a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Check the portion, added sugar, coatings and sauces against the nutrition values above.
Paleo · May be compatible
May fit a paleo pattern, depending on the cut or form, processing and added ingredients.
Low-carb · May be compatible
The plain form may fit a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Check the portion, added sugar, coatings and sauces against the nutrition values above.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: New Zealand FOODfiles 2024 — K178 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .