Roast Bake and saltfish is a popular dish in Trinidadian cuisine that combines the savory flavors of saltfish with the sweet and crispy texture of bake. The dish is typically made by frying salted codfish with onions, tomatoes, and various spices, and then serving it alongside homemade bake, which is a type of bread that is cooked on a flat griddle. The combination of flavors and textures makes for a truly delicious and satisfying meal that is enjoyed by many Trinidadians. While bake and saltfish may seem like a simple dish, it is actually quite complex in its preparation and execution.
The salted codfish must be soaked and boiled to remove excess salt, and then it is fried with a mixture of onions, garlic, peppers, and other seasonings. The bake, on the other hand, requires a delicate balance of flour, yeast, and water to create the perfect dough, which is then rolled out and cooked on a hot griddle until it is crispy and golden brown. The end result is a dish that is both flavorful and comforting, and one that is sure to please any lover of Trinidadian cuisine.
Prep Time:45 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Seafood
Cuisine: Caribbean, creole
Ingredients
- For Bake:
- 2 cups plain flour or 3/4 cups plain flour and 1/4 cup wholewheat flour
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 tbsp. butter or lard
- Water
- For Saltfish:
- 1/2 lb. saltfish
- 3 cloves garlic crushed and chopped
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 3/4 cups tomatoes chopped
- 1/2 tsp. chive chopped
- 1/2 tsp. thyme chopped (spanish or fine leaf)
- 2 tbsp. olive or coconut oil to fry the salt fish
- 1 small hot pepper finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Sift the flour and baking powder together. Then cut the lard or butter into the flour. Mix well to a fine meal. Add the water, and knead to form a smooth dough.
- Leave to rest for about 30 to 40 minutes. Roll out to a desired thickness. You may spread a little oil on the rolled dough before placing it on the tawah to bake. Bake on both sides. Remove and place on a clean kitchen cloth.
- Boil the salt fish until tender and the bones and skin is easily removed. Wash out the extra salt with water.
- Saute the onion, pimento, and tomato for about 2 minutes. Add the salt fish. Cook for another 3-5 minutes. Add a little bit of water if desired. Season to taste. Remove and serve with bake.
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Recipe © Simply Trini Cooking. All rights reserved
Roast Bake and Saltfish
Ingredients
- For Bake:
- 2 cups plain flour or 3/4 cups plain flour and 1/4 cup wholewheat flour
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 tbsp. butter or lard
- Water
- For Saltfish:
- 1/2 lb. saltfish
- 3 cloves garlic crushed and chopped
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 3/4 cups tomatoes chopped
- 1/2 tsp. chive chopped
- 1/2 tsp. thyme chopped (spanish or fine leaf)
- 2 tbsp. olive or coconut oil to fry the salt fish
- 1 small hot pepper finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Sift the flour and baking powder together. Then cut the lard or butter into the flour. Mix well to a fine meal. Add the water, and knead to form a smooth dough.
- Leave to rest for about 30 to 40 minutes. Roll out to a desired thickness. You may spread a little oil on the rolled dough before placing it on the tawah to bake. Bake on both sides. Remove and place on a clean kitchen cloth.
- Boil the salt fish until tender and the bones and skin is easily removed. Wash out the extra salt with water.
- Saute the onion, pimento, and tomato for about 2 minutes. Add the salt fish. Cook for another 3-5 minutes. Add a little bit of water if desired. Season to taste. Remove and serve with bake.
