Salted Fish Bites (Acra)

Easter, Christmas, birthdays, and Sunday mornings would not be the same without these bites of salty, crunchy, and spicy treats. These are a staple in islands like Dominica (where I am from). There are a few things to note:

It is important to soak the salted cod overnight. I rinse it before I soak it to get out excess salt. In the morning drain the salted cod and rinse under cool water and separate the pieces of fish with your fingers.

The other thing to discuss are the peppers. The seasoning peppers are for flavour and not heat. Scotch Bonnet peppers are another story. They are very hot and need to be handled carefully. I use a fork and a knife to cut the skin away from the seeds. Do not use the seeds. (Don’t say I didn’t warn you.)

Moving forward, mix fish with salt, onion, minced peppers and minced scallions. Set aside.

Mix flour and baking powder together in a mixing bowl. Combine the salted cod mixture with the flour mixture. Add the water. You may need more water and flour to get the right consistency. The consistency should resemble thick pancake batter with fish. I apologize for the visual!

Drop tablespoons of the fish-flour mixture into medium-high heated oil. Fry both sides until they are golden brown. I always make one first, taste it, and add salt, flour or water depending on the flavour and texture. The fish bites should be crispy on the outside and light on the inside. Every bite should have some spicy bits. Once the fish bites are well browned, remove from oil onto a paper towel lined plate to drain and repeat with remaining batter.

From my kitchen to your table. Enjoy.