Jamaican Style Butter Beans & Saltfish Recipe|THE RAINA’S KITCHEN

Introduction

In this tutorial, we'll walk you through making a delicious Jamaican-style dish featuring saltfish and butter beans. This recipe combines savory flavors with hearty ingredients, making it perfect for any meal of the day. Whether you're new to Jamaican cuisine or looking to expand your cooking repertoire, this guide is for you!

Step 1: Prepare the Saltfish

• Select Your Fish: Use cod fish, pollock, or bakalong (salted fish). You can find these at Caribbean supermarkets or online.
• Soak or Boil the Saltfish:
  • Option 1: Soak the saltfish overnight in water to reduce the salt content.
  • Option 2: Boil the saltfish for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse it with fresh water.
• Flake the Saltfish: Once cooled, remove any bones and flake the fish into smaller pieces.

Step 2: Gather Your Ingredients

• Vegetables: You will need:
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 small piece of scotch bonnet pepper (make a small slit for flavor, but don’t remove the seeds if you want to limit the heat)
  • ¼ of a green bell pepper, chopped
• Coconut Oil: Use about 2 tablespoons for cooking.
• Butter Beans: Use one can of butter beans, drained and rinsed.

Step 3: Cook the Vegetables

• Heat the Coconut Oil: In a pan, heat 2 tablespoons of coconut oil over medium heat.
• Sauté the Vegetables:
  • Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and tomatoes to the pan.
  • Cook until the onions are translucent and the tomatoes are soft.

Step 4: Combine Ingredients

• Add the Flaked Saltfish: Stir the flaked saltfish into the sautéed vegetables.
• Season to Taste:
  • Add black pepper. Taste and adjust salt if necessary, based on how much salt was washed off the fish.

Step 5: Add the Butter Beans

• Incorporate the Butter Beans: Add the drained butter beans to the mixture.
• Add Water: Pour in a little water to steam the beans; this helps soften them.
• Simmer: Cover the pan and let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the beans to soften.

Step 6: Serve Your Dish

• Pairing Suggestions: This dish goes well with:
  • Dumplings
  • Green bananas
  • Corn
  • Boiled white potatoes
• Final Touch: Make sure to add oil to the pot when cooking your dumplings or other sides to prevent sticking.

Conclusion

Now you have a tasty Jamaican-style saltfish and butter beans dish ready to enjoy! This recipe is versatile, so feel free to add other vegetables like cabbage or kalalu to customize it to your taste. Enjoy your meal and consider trying other Jamaican recipes for a full culinary experience!