Bake and Saltfish

Name: Bake and Saltfish
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Guyanese
Ingredients: 250g salted codfish, soaked overnight; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tbsp sugar; Pinch of salt; 150ml warm water; Vegetable oil for frying; 1 onion, sliced; 2 tomatoes, diced; 1 wiri wiri pepper, minced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 bell pepper, diced

Bake and Saltfish (BAKE and SALT-fish)

Fried Bread with Seasoned Salt Cod

⏱ Prep Time 45 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 448 kcal

Golden fried dough rounds served with flaked salt cod sauteed with onions, tomatoes, and hot pepper, a beloved Guyanese breakfast.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 28.0g

Carbs 48.0g

Fat 16.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten ⚠ fish

Equipment Needed

deep skillet mixing bowl rolling pin

Presentation Guide

Vessel: breakfast plate

Garnishes: sliced avocado, hot pepper sauce

Accompaniments: cocoa tea, fried plantain

Ingredients

250g salted codfish, soaked overnight
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp sugar
Pinch of salt
150ml warm water
Vegetable oil for frying
1 onion, sliced
2 tomatoes, diced
1 wiri wiri pepper, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 bell pepper, diced

Instructions

1
Soak saltfish overnight, then boil fifteen minutes. Drain, flake into pieces, removing any bones and skin.
2
Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add warm water gradually to form a soft dough. Knead five minutes, rest fifteen.
3
Divide dough into eight balls and flatten each into a round disc about half-inch thick.
4
Deep fry bakes in hot oil until golden and puffed on both sides, about three minutes each. Drain on paper towels.
5
Saute onion, garlic, bell pepper, and tomatoes in oil. Add flaked saltfish and wiri wiri pepper. Cook five minutes.
6
Serve two bakes per plate with a generous portion of seasoned saltfish alongside.

💡

Did You Know?

In Guyana, a bake is fried dough, not something from an oven, which often confuses visitors expecting baked bread.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

deep skillet
mixing bowl
rolling pin

Garnishing

sliced avocado, hot pepper sauce

Accompaniments

cocoa tea, fried plantain

The Story Behind Bake and Saltfish

Bake and saltfish is a breakfast tradition that connects Guyana to the broader Caribbean salt cod culture established during the transatlantic trade. Salt cod was shipped from Newfoundland to feed enslaved populations, and the tradition persisted long after emancipation. The fried bake is Guyana's unique contribution, a pillowy round of dough that perfectly soaks up the savory saltfish mixture.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed breakfast or weekend brunch 📜 Origins: Colonial Guyanese tradition

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