ACKEE AND SALT FISH

This is Jamaica’s National dish known as the Jamaican Coat of Arms. 

2 dozen ackees in pods (or 1 tin of ackees)     
1 sprig thyme
½ lb (150 g) salt cod fish    1 hot pepper
2 tablespoons (1oz, 25 g) butter 1 
small tomato, chopped
¼ cup (2. fl oz, 50 ml) oil 
2 onions sliced,  black pepper

Choose ackees that are completely open, with the black seed and yellow fruit clearly visible in the scarlet pod.
This is important, as unripe ackees contain a highly toxic substance.Remove the ackees from the pods. 
Discard the seeds and the pink membrane found in the cleft of each fruit. 
Wash them and put them to boil in a large pot of water with the salt fish. 
Or tie them in a muslin bag and drop the bag into the water with the fish.This prevents the ackees from disintegrating.) 
As soon as the ackees are tender, pour the contents of the pot into a large sieve, discarding the water. 
Separate the ackees from the fish.  Run some cold water over the fish so that you can remove the bones 
and skin comfortably, then flake it and set it aside. (If using tinned ackees,
 empty them into a sieve then rinse under cold running water and set aside. 
Boil saltfish for 15-20 minutes). Put the butter and oil to heat in a frying pan. 
Add the onions, thyme and hot pepper slices, and the tomato if desired. Stir for a few minutes then add the flaked fish. 
Stir for a few more minutes then add the drained ackees, carefully stirring so as not to crush them this is a matter of taste, 
as some people do not like the ackees crushed. Add a little more oil if necessary,  
sprinkle with plenty of freshly ground black pepper, and the dish is ready. 

Serve it decorated with halved hard-boiled eggs. If the dish is a main course, avocado pear slices, fried plantains,
bammies, yams, dumplings and roasted breadfruit all make fine accompaniments. Serves 4.

Ackee and saltfish also makes a very good starter  when served with thin slices of avocado, or as ackee pie: 
line a pie tin with pastry, fill it with ackee and saltfish, sprinkle with cheese,  and bake for 45 minutes at 4000F, 200oC, gas 6. 

Serve hot.  

Submitted by Carmen Sinclair

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