Fried Bakes with Saltfish

About This Recipe

Fried bakes — also called 'bakes' or 'Johnny cakes' depending on the island — are deep-fried rounds of leavened dough that puff into light, airy pillows. Served alongside seasoned saltfish sautéed with tomatoes and onions, they are the go-to breakfast across St. Vincent.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 2 cupsall-purpose flour
• 1 tspbaking powder
• 250 gsalted cod, desalted and flaked
• 2 wholetomatoes, diced
• 1 wholeonion, sliced
• 2 cupsvegetable oil (for frying)

Instructions

1. 1

   Make bake dough

   Mix flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Add water gradually to form a soft dough. Rest 10 minutes.

2. 2

   Shape and fry

   Divide dough into 8 balls, flatten to 1 cm thick. Fry in hot oil 2–3 minutes per side until golden and puffed.

3. 3

   Cook saltfish

   Sauté onion in 1 tbsp oil until soft. Add flaked cod and tomatoes; cook 5 minutes, stirring often.

4. 4

   Serve

   Split warm bakes open and serve topped or filled with saltfish mixture.

Variations

• •

  Bake in the oven at 200°C for 15 minutes for a lighter version.

• •

  Add sweet pepper to the saltfish for colour and sweetness.

Storage

Bakes best eaten fresh. Store saltfish in the fridge up to 3 days.

Frequently Asked Questions