Name: How to Make Saltfish Accra
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 24 min
Total time: 39 min
Yield: 13-18 pieces
Cuisine: Caribbean
Ingredients: 1/2 lb Boneless Salt Cod Fillet or Fresh Cod Fillets; 1 cup All-Purpose Flour; 1 tablespoon Baking Powder; 1 Egg; ¼ to 1/2 cup Milk; 1 small Onion, finely diced; 2 cloves Garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons Scallions, finely chopped; 1 tablespoon Cilantro, chopped; 1/4 teaspoon Thyme, chopped; 1/2 teaspoon Parsley, chopped; 1 teaspoon Brown Sugar; 1 teaspoon Hot Pepper, minced; Ground Black Pepper To taste; Salt To taste; 1 cup Cooking oil (For deep-frying)

Saltfish Accra is a pillowy salt cod fritter popular throughout the Caribbean, such as Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados. It is the perfect finger food or as a quick street food snack to go. If you cannot find salt cod, we've also included instructions on how to make Saltfish Accra using fresh cod filets. Whether you use salt cod or fresh cod, Saltfish Accra is easy to make from scratch, as shown in our recipe below. We hope you enjoy it!

Equipment Needed

Fork

Sifter

Tongs

Whisk

Author: Narandradath Jaikaran

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

24 mins

Total Time

39 mins

Serves

13-18 pieces

Ingredients

1/2 lb Boneless Salt Cod Fillet or Fresh Cod Fillets
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
1 tablespoon Baking Powder
1 Egg
¼ to 1/2 cup Milk
1 small Onion, finely diced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
2 tablespoons Scallions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon Cilantro, chopped
1/4 teaspoon Thyme, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Hot Pepper, minced
Ground Black Pepper To taste
Salt To taste
1 cup Cooking oil (For deep-frying)

Instructions

Place the salt cod in a pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. If using fresh cod, cook it for 10-12 minutes.

Drain and rinse the fish with cold water multiple times to remove the excess salt. Shred and set aside.

Saltfish being strained in a colander over a pot

If you are using fresh cod, drain it, allow it to cool slightly, then shred it and set it aside.

Using a bowl, sift the flour and baking powder, and whisk to combine. Add the egg and milk to create a smooth batter, then mix in the onions with the garlic and scallions. Follow up with cilantro and thyme as well as parsley.

Saltfish accra batter being mixed in a bowl with a fork

Add the shredded cod fish and season with brown sugar as well as hot pepper and black pepper. Add salt to taste if needed.

Saltfish being added stirred into the batter

Pour enough oil into a deep pan or deep fryer and set to medium/high heat.

Scoop the batter into the oil using a spoon and deep-fry for 3-4 minutes. Flip constantly using kitchen tongs, until golden brown all over. Do not overcrowd the pan to prevent the temperature of the oil from dropping.