Ackee and saltfish facts for kids
Ackee and saltfish, served with a side of coleslaw.
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| Course | Breakfast |
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| Place of origin | Jamaica |
| Associated national cuisine | Jamaican |
| Main ingredients | Ackee and salt cod |
| Ingredients generally used | Onion, Scotch bonnet pepper, tomato, spices |
Ackee and saltfish is a very famous dish from Jamaica. It is known as the national dish of Jamaica. This tasty meal is made with two main ingredients: a fruit called ackee and salted codfish.
Contents
What is Ackee and Saltfish?
Ackee and saltfish is a traditional Jamaican breakfast. It is a mix of the ackee fruit and dried, salted codfish. People often enjoy it with other foods like breadfruit or dumplings.
The Ackee Fruit
The ackee fruit (Blighia sapida) is the national fruit of Jamaica. It came to the Caribbean from Ghana a long time ago, even before the year 1725. The name 'Ackee' or 'Aki' comes from the Akan people in Ghana.
A scientist named Captain William Bligh brought the ackee fruit from Jamaica to England in 1793. He shared it with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. This is why the fruit's scientific name honors him.
It's important to know that parts of the ackee fruit can be harmful if eaten before they are ripe. The fruit must open naturally on the tree before it is safe to eat. Because of this, there are rules about shipping ackee to places like the United States.
Salted Codfish
Salted codfish was brought to Jamaica a long time ago. It was a good food source because it lasted a long time and was not expensive. It provided important protein for many people.
How to Make Ackee and Saltfish
Making ackee and saltfish involves a few simple steps. First, the salt cod is prepared. Then, it is cooked with boiled ackee.
Cooking the Dish
To cook this dish, the salt cod is lightly fried with different vegetables. These include onions, Scotch bonnet peppers, and tomatoes. It is then seasoned with spices like pepper and paprika.
Sometimes, people add bacon and extra tomatoes as a garnish. Ackee and saltfish is usually eaten for breakfast. It often comes with sides like breadfruit, hard dough bread, dumplings, or boiled green bananas.
Other Ways to Enjoy It
You can also eat ackee and saltfish with rice and peas. Or, you can have it with plain white rice. When seasonings like onion, escallion, thyme, and garlic are mixed with plain rice and saltfish, it's called "seasoned rice." This can be a complete meal, sometimes even with ackee mixed in.
Ackee and Saltfish in Culture
Ackee and saltfish is a very important part of Jamaican culture. Many people see it as the official national dish of Jamaica.
Famous Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is known to enjoy ackee and saltfish for breakfast. This was mentioned in The Guardian newspaper. Also, the 1956 hit song Jamaica Farewell by Harry Belafonte mentions the dish. The song says, "Ackee rice, saltfish are nice."
See also
In Spanish: Akí y bacalao para niños
