Jamaican Saltfish Fritters

Ingredients

6 ounces dried salted cod fish

Cold water – Enough to cover the fish

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 large tomato – Chopped

2 green onions – Chopped

½ cup water

Vegetable oil – For frying

Directions

Rehydrate the Cod: Soak the salted cod in cold water for 8 hours or overnight to rehydrate and remove excess salt.

Prepare the Cod: After soaking, remove the bones and skin from the fish. Flake and shred the cod into small pieces; set aside.

Make the Batter: Sift the flour, black pepper, and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the chopped tomato, green onions, and flaked cod. Pour in ½ cup of water and stir until the mixture is well blended.

Heat the Oil: In a large, heavy skillet, heat about ¼ inch of vegetable oil over medium heat.

Fry the Fritters: Drop rounded spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil. Fry until the fritters are golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

*Recipe Tip

If you can't soak the fish overnight, place it in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cool water. Repeat with fresh water four more times, tasting after each rinse to check the salt level. If still too salty, repeat the process.