Jamaican saltfish fritters was one of the first breakfast dishes I learned to make. Fritters in general is one of the most eaten on-the-go breakfast while I was growing up. There was a lady named Marcia, who used to sell these saltfish fritters by my high school. They were about two for fifty Jamaican dollars at the time. Her fritters were a little spicy and that made eating them very eventful. You will never know where that piece of scotch bonnet is hiding, but when the spice hits your tastebuds you will surely feel it.
What is Saltfish?
Saltfish is a dried fish (usually cod or pollock), that is salted for preservation. There are a few different names when it comes to saltfish. The other names are salted cod, salted pollock and bacalao. In the Caribbean, saltfish is used is a variety of dishes such as, Jamaican Ackee and Saltfish and Jamaican Seasoned Rice.
What are Saltfish Fritters? How Do You Make Them?
The process of making fritters is pretty simple. Imagine frying a pancake instead of searing it. Fritters are mainly a mixture of flour and any savory additives you may desire. You can find Jamaican saltfish fix at any Caribbean supermarket or try this saltfish fritter mix.
The ingredients in this Jamaican saltfish fritters are normally flour, scallions, black pepper and salt.
yes , salt.
Why Salt?
We normally add a pinch of salt, not a lot. Just enough to bring out the flavor of the ingredients in the fritters.
Are Saltfish Fritters Healthy?
In my opinion, yes and no.
No, because these, crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, saltfish fritters are fried.
Yes, because there are nutrients in the dried fish itself but we cannot ignore the salt.
There is a tremendous amount of salt that come with saltfish
How to Get Rid of Salt from Saltfish?
Saltfish can be either soaked overnight or boiled to get rid of the excess salt.
When boiling salted fish, I usually wash any visible salt from the fish before boiling twice.
After rinsing the Salted Pollock, I add cold water and the fish to a small pot and bring to a boil. The fish will still be a little salty at this point so I repeat the step once more before moving on with the recipe.
This recipe can be vegan with the exclusion of the Salted Fish.
Jamaican Saltfish Fritters
Equipment
- Skillet or Frying Pan
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cups
- Wooden Spoon
- Measuring Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 Cup All Purpose Flour
- 4 Ounces Saltfish (Salted Cod) Soaked or Boiled
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Stalk Scallion Thinly Sliced
- 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- A Pinch of Salt Optional
- Thyme Leaves Only (Optional)
- Scotch Bonnet Chopped (Optional)
- Oil for Frying
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add the all purpose flour, black pepper, saltfish, scallions and a pinch of salt (optional).
- Use a wooden spoon to break the saltfish into smaller pieces and mix all the ingredients together.
- Once the saltfish is evenly distributed throughout the flour, gradually add water.
- Add the water a little at a time and gently stir until the batter is thick but still dripping from the spoon.
- Heat a about a half inch of oil in a large skillet.
- Once the oil is heated, place about 2-3 tablespoon of saltfish batter an inch part in the hot oil.
- Fry on each side for 3 minutes each, flipping every 30 seconds. Constantly flipping the fritter will allow an even fry and color, as well as reduce the amount of oil that the fritter soaks up.Fry in batch so the frying pan isn't overcrowded.
- Drain the excess oil on paper towel before serving.
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