Jamaica’s First Ackee and Saltfish Waffle are like no other. These waffles are unique, loaded with flavor. Drizzle with maple syrup or your favorite topping, and you will enjoy this perfect treat any time of the day. Try this easy waffle recipe. Make a few batches, freeze and reheat for enjoyment later.
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If you do not own a Waffle Maker, here are my links for your shopping convenience.
Fun Facts About Ackee
Have you ever eaten ackee? If not, here are a few fun facts: The inedible skin of the ackee fruit is pinkish-yellow. Inside each pod are 3 yellow edible portions with black seeds.
Ackee is said to be brought to the island of Jamaican from West Africa. In addition, the name originates from the Ghanian name Ankye. However, the scientific name is Blighia Sapida.
Today, if you travel across Jamaica, you will observe ackee trees embellished and loaded with this beautiful fruit across all 14 parishes.
From Tree-to-Waffle
Ackee is named Jamaica's national fruit. It has a very distinct smell. When cooked, it resembles buttery scrambled eggs. The fruit takes on the flavor of whatever other food item it is cooked with.
In addition, the fruit is used as an ingredient in a number of creative dishes. The Ackee and Saltfish Waffle is the newest recipe added to the list of dishes.
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Jamaica's National Dish
Ackee and saltfish is Jamaica’s national dish.
It is usually served with dumplings and/or root vegetables or “ground provisions” as they are commonly called in Jamaica. However, the national dish can be eaten with any starchy food items.
One of my favorite food memory is ackee and saltfish sandwiched between two slices of hard dough bread.
Food Explora’s one-pot meal in a waffle, can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack.
Feel the taste of Jamaica
Taste a piece of Jamaica with this delicious ackee and saltfish waffle. Sweet, salty, crunchy, creamy, are just some of the textures and bursts of flavors your tastebuds will enjoy with every bite.
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
Jamaica's Ackee and Saltfish Waffle
Here are all the ingredients you will need.
Below are Amazon ingredient links for your shopping convenience.
Canned Ackee
Fresh Garlic
Oil Spray
black Pepper
salt
Flour
Cornmeal
Dried Thyme Leaves
scallion
eggs
Brown Sugar
Red Bell Pepper
Olive Oil
Saltfish
Baking Powder
Green Bell Pepper
Onion
Your kitchen will need one of these kitchen cookware and utensils. Click on each for more detailed information and your shopping convenience.
Jamaica's First Ackee and Saltfish Waffle Recipe
Equipment
- Sauce Pans
- Wok or Cast Iron Pot
- Wooden Spoon
- Waffle Maker
- Mixing Bowls
- Whisk
Ingredients
Ackee and codfish
- 1 lb Salted Codfish
- 1.5 cups Ackee
- 1 cup Green Bell Pepper, Finely Diced
- 1 cup Red Bell Pepper, Finely Diced
- ½ cup Yellow Onion, Finely Diced
- 3 cloves Garlic, Crushed
- 2 tsp. Thyme, Dried
- 3 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 2 tsp. Black Pepper
Waffle Batter
- 2 cups All-purpose Flour
- ⅓ cup Fine Cornmeal
- 2 tbsp. Light Brown Sugar
- 3 tsp. Baking Powder
- 2 medium Eggs
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 2 cups Water
- 1 can Olive Oil Spray
Instructions
Let's Make Jamaican Ackee & Saltfish
- Codfish or "saltfish" as it's commonly called in Jamaica, is paired with our national fruit: ackee. If you are conscious about your salt intake, then fresh pollock fish is a perfect substitute. It smells similar to salted cod and has a very meaty texture. Soak saltfish in warm water for 1-2 hours. This helps to remove some of the salt, especially on the surface, and also rehydrate the flesh. If you don't have time, you can rinse salted fish under warm running water and then follow the next step.
- In a saucepan, bring to boil codfish in 1 quart of tap water. Boil for 20 minutes. Some people repeat this step twice to ensure that most of the salt is removed.
- I used fresh ackee received from Jamaica that was previously frozen. When you freeze ackee, the texture changes, they become softer and cook faster. In a pot with 2 cups water, cook ackee for 3-5 minutes or until tender. Strain water and set aside.It is difficult to find fresh ackee here in the US. However, canned ackee may be purchased on Amazon; they are just as good. Open the can with a can opener, drain the brine and set it aside into a bowl.
- On a cutting board, dice the sweet peppers, onion. Thinly slice the scallion and use a garlic press to crush garlic cloves. Set aside.
- After saltfish is boiled, strain the salted water. Run cold water over hot codfish to cool them down. Make sure it's cool enough then flake codfish by removing the flesh from the bones. You do not want to have any bones among the flaked flesh. Set aside in a bowl.
- In a wok or cast iron pot, heat olive oil for 1 minute over medium heat. Add the onion, crushed garlic, and thyme leaves. Mix well and cook for 1-2 minutes until translucent.
- The 1 lb. codfish yielded 1.5 cups of flaked codfish. Add fish to the onion mixture. Mix together and continue cooking for another 2 minutes over low flame.
- Add the cooked ackee to the saltfish mixture and stir.
- Add your sweet peppers and combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Now It's Time To Make The Waffle Batter
- Use a strainer to sieve the flour, salt, and baking powder into a bowl.
- Add cornmeal and 2 tbsps. of brown sugar. Use a whisk to combine all the dry ingredients.
- Pour water into dry ingredients and mix well. Add the 2 whole eggs and continue mixing until a uniform batter is formed.
- Use a metal spoon to add the delicious ackee and codfish to the batter. Mix very well.
- Mix all ingredients together until the ackee and codfish are evenly distributed.
- I had this waffle maker for years and it has served me well. If you don't own one, check out my links to Amazon for your shopping convenience. Plug the waffle maker to warm up. Grease the base of the waffle maker on both sides with the can of olive oil spray.
- Use a measuring cup to scoop about ½ cup of the batter on each side of the waffle maker. Close lid and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side. Initially, you will observe a lot of steam coming from the sides of the waffle maker. As it gets closer to finishing cooking, the steam will decrease or stop. This is an indication that the waffles are ready to be removed.
- Remove waffles and repeat the process. This recipe makes 12 waffles and serves about 6 people. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup and enjoy.
Notes
If you love my Ackee and Codfish Waffle, then you are going to also love these delicious Jamaican ackee dishes.
Click on each picture or name for the recipe.
Thanks for dropping by. I would love to know what you think. Leave a comment and star rating.
Ok i haven’t heard of ackee before. I liked the bell pepper ingredients to add a bit if sweetness, and then olive oil was interesting, to change it back to savory. Seems great to try. Xx
Isa A. Blogger
I’ve never tried anything like this before but I’m 100% going to change that. This has really taken my fancy, it looks and sounds delicious. I love a good waffle haha. Thank you so much for sharing this with us Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
The flavours in this dish sound incredible — thanks for sharing!
So nice to see that traditional fish dishes don’t have to include fermented fish, greetings from Sweden 🙂
The dish looks amazing and the recipe seems easy to follow, which is useful as I’m not a great cook. I’ve never heard of an Ackee, so I have no idea what it’ll taste like or if I’ll like it. I’m not even sure if it’s something I can buy in the UK, but I won’t know unless I try finding it. I’m not a fan of anything seafood related though, so I’ll skip the saltfish should I try it
All the ingredients can be found via the Amazon Fresh Links in the ingredients section. Hope you get to try ackee someday. Take a trip to Jamaica!
This recipe sounds super interesting. I have never tried anything like that before. Thanks so much for sharing it!
I love Jamaican food. Ackee is one of my favorite Jamaican foods. My grandmother who is from Jamaican used to make this for the whole family. I never had it though with a waffle. I would love to see how it taste.
This sounds out of this world
Reminds me of a fritter just not fried. My husband is Jamaican – I think he might like this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
What a stunning dish! This is a show stopper for sure. What a great dish to entertain with.
I’ve never tried ackee or saltfish before, so I’m curious to give it a try. This recipe looks delicious!
These look and sound pretty tasty. I’ve never heard of ackee before but it looks good in this recipe. I love the format you use to show the ingredients as affiliate links.
Hearthy waffles are fantastic. Great recipe which I surely need to try!
I had never heard of ackee and this recipe just completely sold it to me! The waffles look crispy and yummy, plus the saltfish…yes please! This looks like a dish that should be in a restaurant, Kevin!
I have never heard of Jamaica’s national fruit or dish. Your national recipe seems not only delicious but healthy as well.
Thanks for sharing your memories of your favorite dish.
Thanks for dropping by. Please check out my other recipes and come back again.
This breakfast looks amazing! I often get bored of cooking eggs every morning so this is perfect. I’ve been learning how to cook from your blogs. Very helpful!
I’ve never heard of ackee before, but it sounds delicious! I love your recipes. Thanks for opening my world!
You are welcomed Katie. Appreciate you dropping by.
This looks unique and delicious. I’ve loved chicken and waffles for awhile – so this recipe seems like a perfect option to try!
Definitely was Debbie. Appreciate the comment and star rating.
Wooo ackee and salt fish WAFFLES! This is a must try combo!
Thank you Kath. I hope you get to make my Ackee and codfish waffle someday.
I have never tried ackee and find it interesting that it takes on the flavor of whatever it is cooked with. Thank you for including the links, especially the canned ackee. I love that all of the ingredients are cooked directly into the waffle. At first sight, I thought some of the ingredients were the topping in the picture. Is that a waffle split and placed on top? It’s a beautiful presentation!
Thank you for dropping by Michelle. On top of the waffles are the actual ackee and codfish. Appreciate the comment and star rating.
I am a savory breakfast person and love trying new ingredients. Absolutely loving this recipe!
Thank you Vaishali