The short answer
Saltfish fritters are a much loved Caribbean snack of flaked salt cod mixed into a seasoned flour batter with onion, herbs and hot pepper, then spooned into hot oil and fried into crispy, savoury golden fritters. In Jamaica they are famously known as stamp and go, one of the island's oldest fast foods, while similar fritters are called accra in other parts of the Caribbean. Crisp outside and soft within, they are enjoyed as a breakfast, snack or party bite. Because they are made with salt cod, they contain fish. In the UK the saltfish and flour are sold by Caribbean and African food shops and supermarkets.
What to remember
- Saltfish fritters are crispy Caribbean snacks of flaked salt cod in a seasoned batter.
- In Jamaica they are famously called stamp and go, an old island fast food.
- Similar fritters are known as accra elsewhere in the Caribbean.
- They are crisp outside, soft within, and eaten at breakfast, as a snack or party bite.
- They contain fish, and the saltfish is sold by Caribbean and African food shops in the UK.
For Jamaicans and other Caribbean people in Britain, saltfish fritters, or stamp and go, are a crispy taste of home. They are the golden fritters at Saturday breakfast, the snack fried up by the dozen at a family gathering, the savoury, saltfish-filled bite that says home and childhood, the crunch that brings back the island kitchen. Frying a batch far from home brings back mornings and gatherings and the simple joy of a hot, crispy fritter, the warmth of home in every savoury bite.
There is real history in them too, in a snack whose names, stamp and go and accra, carry the story of the Caribbean and its West African roots. It reflects the way saltfish, a humble preserved ingredient, became the heart of a beloved snack, and to make and share these fritters is to keep that tradition going. Frying saltfish fritters for family who grew up on them, or introducing a friend to their first crispy, savoury bite, is a small act of welcome. That crispy, savoury taste of home is the quiet gift of saltfish fritters.
What are saltfish fritters?
Saltfish fritters are one of the Caribbean's most beloved savoury snacks, crispy golden fritters built around salt cod, or saltfish. Salted, dried cod is soaked to remove the salt, then flaked and folded into a seasoned batter of flour, water, onion, herbs such as thyme and spring onion, and hot pepper, and spoonfuls of the mixture are fried in hot oil until puffed, crisp and golden. The result is a fritter that is crunchy on the outside and soft and savoury within, full of the flavour of the saltfish and seasonings.
These fritters have a long history and go by wonderful names. In Jamaica they are famously called stamp and go, said to be one of the island's oldest fast foods, and elsewhere in the Caribbean similar salt cod fritters are known as accra, a name that reflects West African roots. Because they are made with salt cod, they contain fish, which is worth noting for anyone with a fish allergy. Saltfish fritters belong to the world of Caribbean home cooking and street food we cover in our guide to Caribbean food, sitting alongside other saltfish classics like ackee and saltfish.
The saltfish and the batter
Understanding saltfish fritters means understanding their two parts: the saltfish and the batter. Saltfish is cod, or sometimes other white fish, that has been salted and dried to preserve it, and it must be prepared before use by soaking, and usually boiling, to remove most of the salt and to soften it, after which it is flaked into small pieces. This step is important, as unsoaked saltfish would be far too salty. Good saltfish gives the fritters their savoury, distinctive flavour.
The flaked saltfish is then mixed into a simple batter of flour and water, seasoned generously with finely chopped onion, spring onion, thyme, hot pepper such as scotch bonnet, and sometimes tomato or other herbs and spices. The batter is brought together until it will hold its shape, then dropped in spoonfuls into hot oil and fried until golden and crisp on both sides. The balance of well-soaked saltfish, plenty of seasoning and a good fry is what makes a great fritter. This is general food information rather than dietary advice, and the fish content matters for anyone with allergies.
How are saltfish fritters enjoyed?
Saltfish fritters are wonderfully versatile and are enjoyed at many times of day. In Jamaica, stamp and go is a classic breakfast, eaten with a hot drink or alongside other breakfast foods, and the fritters are also a favourite snack, street food and party bite, served hot and crisp for people to enjoy with their hands. They are the kind of moreish, savoury treat that disappears quickly at a gathering.
They are best eaten fresh and hot from the pan, when they are at their crispiest, sometimes with a squeeze of lime or a little pepper sauce on the side. Because they pack the savoury punch of saltfish into a crisp, satisfying fritter, they are a beloved comfort food and a great introduction to Caribbean flavours for anyone who enjoys fish. Different islands and families have their own versions and seasonings, but the idea is the same: crispy, savoury, saltfish-filled fritters. Served hot, they are simple Caribbean comfort at its best.
Where to buy the ingredients in the UK
Making saltfish fritters at home in Britain is very doable, as the ingredients are easy to find. Caribbean and African food shops stock saltfish, the salted, dried cod that is the heart of the dish, along with the flour, thyme, spring onion and scotch bonnet you need, and supermarkets carry flour, herbs and often saltfish too. The main thing to buy is good saltfish, and to remember to soak it well before using.
If you are new to saltfish fritters, a Caribbean or African food shop can point you to good saltfish and advise on soaking and preparing it. You can find African food stores near you or look up Caribbean food stores near you, many of which serve Caribbean communities and stock saltfish. With well-soaked saltfish, a well-seasoned batter and a hot pan, you can fry up a batch of these crispy Caribbean fritters at home. Do remember they are made with fish, for anyone with a fish allergy.
Frequently asked questions
What are saltfish fritters?
Saltfish fritters are a much loved Caribbean snack of flaked salt cod mixed into a seasoned flour batter with onion, herbs and hot pepper, then fried into crispy, savoury golden fritters. Crisp outside and soft within, they are enjoyed at breakfast, as a snack or a party bite. In Jamaica they are famously known as stamp and go.
What is stamp and go?
Stamp and go is the Jamaican name for saltfish fritters, said to be one of the island's oldest fast foods. The name is thought to come from the idea of a quick, grab-and-go snack. Stamp and go and saltfish fritters are the same thing: crispy fried fritters of seasoned batter and flaked saltfish, enjoyed at breakfast, as a snack or at parties.
What are saltfish fritters made of?
Saltfish fritters are made from saltfish, salted dried cod that is soaked and boiled to remove the salt, then flaked, and a batter of flour and water seasoned with onion, spring onion, thyme, hot pepper such as scotch bonnet and sometimes tomato. Spoonfuls of the mixture are fried in hot oil until golden and crisp. They contain fish.
Are saltfish fritters the same as accra?
They are closely related. In much of the Caribbean, salt cod fritters like these are called accra, a name that reflects West African roots, while in Jamaica they are known as stamp and go or saltfish fritters. There are small differences in batter and seasoning across islands, but the idea, crispy fried fritters of saltfish in seasoned batter, is shared.
Where can I buy the ingredients in the UK?
Caribbean and African food shops stock saltfish, the salted dried cod at the heart of the dish, along with the flour, thyme, spring onion and scotch bonnet you need, and supermarkets carry flour, herbs and often saltfish too. A Caribbean or African food shop can point you to good saltfish and advise on soaking it well before use. African Stores lists African and Caribbean food shops across the UK, so you can find one near you.
