Ackee & Saltfish

Ackee & Saltfish is Jamaica's national dish, though I hear it is getting some serious competition from the much loved rice and peas and curried goat. But that's a story for another time, today I want to talk about how tasty ackee is.

Ackee is currently in season and I am enjoying the bounty. My friend Paula brought me 3 lbs of fresh ackee last week and naturally that meant that I'd be making ackee and saltfish. Gosh, I know those of you Caribbean people living abroad will be envious :)



Ackee may look like scrambled eggs but they taste nothing like scrambled eggs, it's creamy when cooked with natural notes of sweetness that contrasts well with the saltiness of the saltfish, sauteed with onions, tomatoes, sweet, hot & black peppers and herbs. This is a dish that is much sought after at home and abroad.

The product of an evergreen tree, the fruit is ripe and ready for picking when it turns a bright red-orange and bursts open. You can read more about ackee here. And you can read this week's column here.

This past Thursday was Valentine's day and since I only post on Saturdays, I am sending all my love to you today. And since this is a food blog, I am dedicating the tomato rose that garnishes the ackee and saltfish to you, yes, I made it myself :)

I am also the lucky recipient of The Spreader of Love Award and so I want to share that award with each and every one of you, yes, YOU that's reading this blog right now :) So be sure to wear it proudly on your blog. I'd like to thank sincerely, my dear friend, Vi over at East Meets West Kitchen for bestowing me with this award. Thank you!

This week over at Forgive Me My Nonsense... let's pay more attention to what's happening around us, you never can tell when and where inspiration will show up.