How to make an easy stew saltfish, Caribbean style.

Learn how to make Caribbean-style stew saltfish (salted cod) simmered with fresh herbs, vegetables, and bold island flavor. This savory dish is easy to make and perfect with dumplings, rice, or ground provision.

We Love Saltfish in the Caribbean

Saltfish (also called salted cod or bacalao) is a pantry staple across the Caribbean. We use it for breakfast, lunch, dinner—even snack time. It’s versatile, easy to cook, and always delicious.

In this version, saltfish is simmered down with a medley of sautéed vegetables, fresh herbs, and spices. Unlike our meat stews that use caramelized sugar, this one is light, bright, and veggie-packed.

What is salted cod

Saltfish is typically made from cod, haddock, or whiting that’s been salted and dried for long storage. Before cooking, it must be rehydrated and desalinated—either by soaking, boiling, or rinsing.

What is stew saltfish

I know I’ve shared other stews of chicken and oxtail, where we caramelize sugar and then add meat to the pot.

Stew saltfish is a bit different. There is no browning of sugar for this one. This stew is made up of a lot of chopped vegetables, especially tomatoes, all mixed together with the saltfish and heated through.

Stew saltfish is an easy way to cook saltfish. Try out my recipe and let me know what you think!

How to make stew saltfish

Ingredients

We really want to build flavors in this dish with a lot of fresh ingredients. My list you might find a little long, or you may not have everything on hand. That’s okay.

Another great thing about this dish is that you can simply use any vegetables you have on hand to create it.

• Saltfish (salted cod)
• Oil – vegetable or coconut oil
• Onion, garlic, and scallions
• Tomatoes
• Celery and bell peppers
• Pimento and hot peppers
• Fresh thyme
• Chadon beni
• Black pepper
• Salt (only if needed)

Instructions

1. Prep your saltfish: Soak saltfish in room temp water for 15 minutes. Drain and repeat. Test for saltiness, and soak again if needed. Once ready, shred or chop into bite-sized pieces.

2. Chop everything ahead. This dish moves fast—get all your veggies prepped before you turn on the stove.

3. Sauté aromatics. Heat oil in a skillet. Add celery, onion, pimento, hot pepper, garlic, and scallions. Cook until the onions soften.

4. Add saltfish. Squeeze out excess water, then sauté with the veggies for about 5-6 minutes.

6. Add tomatoes and herbs. Mix in tomatoes, thyme, chadon beni, and black pepper. Cook another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.

7. Serve hot!

Pairing Suggestions

This goes beautifully with:

• Hops bread, fry bake, or roast bake
• Boiled dumplings (flour or cassava)
• Ground provisions (cassava, sweet potato, plantain)
• Roasted breadfruit
• Rice dishes

Storage & Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through, or eat it cold, straight from the fridge!

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe

Easy stew saltfish

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Stew saltfish (or simply Salt Fish) is a Caribbean favorite where it’s accompanied by rice or ground provision. The main ingredients are salt fish or salt cod, onions, tomatoes, garlic, pepper, thyme, scotch bonnet peppers, and seasoning

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Caribbean

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 12 ounces saltfish salted cod, bacalao
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 pimento peppers chopped
• 4 cloves garlic crushed
• 4 blades culantro chopped
• 1 large onion chopped thinly
• 1 large beef tomato cubed
• 1 stalk celery chopped (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 bell pepper chopped
• 2 scallions chopped
• 1 tablespoon thyme flakes or 4 stalks thyme leaves
• 1 hot pepper chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Salt optional

Method

 

Desalt and rehydrate the saltfish

1. Soak the saltfish in enough water to cover it.
2. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then discard the water.
3. Test piece of saltfish for salt levels.
4. If still too salty, repeat the process. You can soak for less time each time.
5. Alternatively, you can boil the saltfish in water for 20 minutes.

How to make stewed saltfish

1. While the saltfish is soaking, take the time to chop up all your vegetables.
2. Heat up a medium pot with oil.
3. When heated add your chopped vegetables: pimento peppers, garlic, onions, celery, bell peppers, scallions, thyme, and hot pepper.
4. Saute those for about 5 minutes, till the onions are opaque.
5. Add the saltfish to the pot and combine.
6. Add the remaining ingredients of the tomatoes, culantro and black pepper
7. Cook that for another 5 minutes, then remove from the stove.
8. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust if needed.
9. Serve with the side of your choice.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!