Jamaican Cookery

Fry up salted mackerel is a beloved Jamaican breakfast dish, traditionally served with green boiled bananas and dumplings. But trust me—pairing it with roasted yellow heart breadfruit? That’s a whole other level of yard-style goodness.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through how I prepare my fry up salted mackerel, step-by-step, the way my granny used to do it—with a little modern twist here and there.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• ½ lb. salted mackerel

• ½ onion, sliced

• ½ sweet pepper, chopped

• 1 tomato, diced

• 1 clove garlic, chopped

• 1 hot pepper, sliced (Scotch bonnet if you brave!)

• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil

• 1 tbsp. tomato ketchup or tomato paste

• Black pepper (to taste)

• Less than ¼ cup water (optional – for sauce-like gravy)

Step 1: Prepare the Salted Mackerel

The night before, rinse the salted mackerel under tap water and place it in a container to soak overnight. This helps to reduce the salt without boiling it (though boiling is another option if you're short on time).

In the morning:

1. Discard the soaking water.

2. Pour freshly boiled water over the mackerel and let it sit for 2 minutes.

3. Clean the mackerel: remove gills, bones, and anything that doesn’t look edible.

4. Flake or slice the mackerel, depending on your preference.

Step 2: Chop Your Seasonings

Get your seasonings ready:

• Slice your onion, sweet pepper, hot pepper, tomato, and garlic.

• Keep everything within arm’s reach—you’re about to bring the flavor!

Step 3: Cook It Up

1. Place a Dutch pot or skillet on low heat.

2. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.

3. Sauté the onion, sweet pepper, garlic, tomato, and hot pepper until soft and translucent.

4. Add your flaked salted mackerel to the pot.

5. Sprinkle in some black pepper and stir in 1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup.

6. Cover the pot and allow everything to simmer for about 2 minutes.

Step 4: Choose Your Gravy Style

Now here’s the big decision:
Do you want a rich oil-based finish or a saucy gravy?

• Oil-based fry up: Remove the pot from heat and serve immediately.

• Sauce-like gravy: Add less than ¼ cup of water to the pot, stir, and let it simmer for a few more minutes until you get that flavorful gravy.

Serve It Up!

You can’t go wrong with traditional sides like boiled green bananas and dumplings, but my personal favorite is pairing it with roasted yellow heart breadfruit. That natural sweetness and roast flavor match the mackerel perfectly.