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Filled with Jamaican flavour, perfectly crispy, and loaded with spices to make your tastes buds get up and dance vegan Jamaican saltfish fritters are fully plant based and absolutely delicious.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy savoury breakfast recipe, vegan saltfish recipes are the one for you! Loved across the island, salt fish fritters obviously contain seafood making them not vegan. Making the simple switch for jackfruit, this vegan alternative tastes almost like the real thing and is beyond flavourful!
What are Jamaican saltfish fritters?
Salt-fish is a protein that is deeply loved in Jamaica and other Caribbean islands. It is commonly mixed with ackee, callaloo, cabbage, boiled food, and of course thrown into make delicious fritters.
Ital Eats and Treats is a fully vegan platform that doesn’t include animal products in any of our recipes. For this fritter dish, we’ll be using un-ripe young green jackfruit! It shreds just like salt fish and is commonly used in vegan pulled pork or shredded chicken dishes. The taste is so close to the real thing, especially if you add a bit of seaweed.
Other Jamaican Fritters
You can basically fritter anything. Whether it be broccoli, apples, corn, carrot, zucchini, or even pumpkin, let your imagination and chef skills run wild! Many other cultures have their own versions of fritters however the most popular ones in Jamaica are banana fritters and salt fish fritters.
Plantain fritters are a bit less common in the island but completely delicious. The riper the plantain, the better. If you come from Caribbean, African, Latino culture or just love plantain, these fritters are sure to win your heart.
What You’ll Need
- Canned Green Jackfruit– Use this link to get some if you can’t find any near you.
- Scallion
- Onion
- Tomato
- Bell Pepper
- Scotch Bonnet
- Garlic
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Water
- Fresh Thyme
- Oil
- Nori Sheet Seaweed (optional for “sea” flavour)
Seasonings you’ll need
- Jamaican All Purpose– Absolutely necessary for all Caribbean inspired dishes! Use this link to get some for your kitchen.
- Onion
- Garlic Powder
- Black Pepper
- Salt
How to make Vegan Jamaican Saltfish Fritters
Step One:
De-seed your scotch bonnet pepper, the seeds are extremely spicy. Chop the pepper along with the onion, tomato, scallion, garlic, and bell pepper into tiny pieces. Pick the leaves off the fresh thyme stem. Combine these ingredients into a bowl.
Strain your canned jackfruit and shred them with a fork. **Tip, cut off the hard part on the bottom of the jackfruit piece, this may not shred as well as the rest of the slice. Using a nut milk bag or strainer, press any excess water out of the jackfruit. This step is crucial to get the dry consistency that is needed for the fritters.
Step Two:
Add jackfruit into the bowl of chopped veg as well as the dry seasoning and salt/pepper to taste. Optional nori sheet seaweed can go in now as well. Now, sprinkle in your flour; SLOWLY pour in your water. You may or may not need all of it. Add more water/flour as needed. Stir until a mostly thick slightly runny consistency has been reached.
Step Three:
Heat your pan with enough oil to shallow fry. Use your hands to form thin patty like shapes, no more than 3 tablespoons big. The thinner, the crispier and easier to cook. Thick fritters will have to cook in the oil for a long time and might not crispy up as well.
Once hot, gently spoon in the fritters. Each side must cook for AT LEAST 5-7 minutes. Flip once the side has become golden brown. When the entire fritter is cooked, allow it to sit on a paper towel lined plate to soak extra oil. Serve while warm and enjoy!
How to store vegan Jamaican saltfish fritters
Vegan Jamaican saltfish fritters are so easy to store and re-heat! Once completely cooled, store in a freezer safe ziplock baggie. These can last 2-3 weeks in the freezer making them the perfect get up and go breakfast meal or after school/work snack.
Once you’re ready to re-heat, simple turn your oven to 400 F/204 C and allow them to warm for no more than 10 minutes. The oil should crisp them up nice and be nearly as good when they were fresh off the stove!
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2 Comments
Ro
July 18, 2023 at 5:59 pm
They came out delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
Tiffany
July 18, 2023 at 6:42 pm
That’s awesome. This is one of my favorite recipes I have shared by far!