Soak the codfish in water overnight of for at least 8 hours. Drain it and simmer in fresh water until tender, ( approximately 20 -25 minutes) Rinse and remove any bones and skin from the fish, use eyebrow tweezers as they are great for removing bones, then flake the fish. You can also buy the boneless fish, it costs a little more but is worth it when it comes to cooking.

In a large frying pan sauté` the onion in a little butter and oil add the tomato the flaked fish and last of all the Ackee. Season with black pepper to taste. Personally I like cooking with what is called a Dutch pot. Everything tastes better when it is cooked in a Dutchie.  Serve with sliced fried plantains and boiled green bananas. On the left is a picture of a plate of cooked Ackee and Salt fish.

 Here I would like to talk about the actual Ackee. Show you the edible parts and the inedible parts.
The picture on the left is what the Ackee should look like when it is ready to be eaten. The shiny black seeds are where all the poison goes once the Ackee opens. So that means the Ackee Seed is never edible.

The edible part is the cream colored arili below the seed. The Ackee meat should be boiled for about a half hour and the Ackee water disposed of. Although I have been told that the Ackee can be eaten raw. "In Ghana the children eat the Ackee raw." Adults don't eat it at all. Go Figure. Personally I don't advise trying it. However, as best that I can tell the uncooked Ackee peg is safe to eat if prepared correctly. This means removing the seed and the pink rap he leaving only the cream colored Ackee peg. 

The picture above is of the first Ackee off my tree this season. Can the rest be far behind. So place your order for Ackee seeds now. There will be two types of Ackee seeds available. Seeds fresh off the tree will be sold in packs of six for six dollars. For two dollars more each I have Ackee seeds that have already been germinated.

Ackee Seeds $ 6.00  Per pack of Six

Germinated Ackee Seeds $18.00 for six

Shipping prices quoted are for shipping with in the United States. If you are ordering from outside the United States please contact me @ ackeeTree@verizon.net

 

 The Ackee Man recommends that for all your catering needs in the Saint Petersburg Area  Check Out  Http://www.SaffronsCuisine.com

 Australian Time
 

This recipe for cooking Ackee and salt-fish, like any recipe, is only a suggestion and can be altered to accommodate the different tastes we all have.