Saltfish Fritters (Accra/Fish Cakes)

Steps

▶ Tap a timecode to jump to roughly that moment in the video.

1. 1
   Prepare the saltfish: boil the salted codfish in water for about 10 minutes, then shred or mince it finely into flakes.
   ▶ ≈0:28
2. 2
   Prepare aromatics and vegetables: finely mince the scallion, onion, garlic, fresh thyme, and sweet peppers; set aside.
   ▶ ≈0:36
3. 3
   Combine dry ingredients: in a separate bowl, add 3 cups flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp all purpose seasoning, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric or curry powder (optional), and 1 tbsp sugar. Mix until smooth with no lumps.
   ▶ ≈0:50
4. 4
   Combine ingredients: gradually add 1 to 1.25 cups of water to the dry mixture while stirring. Mix the dry ingredients until smooth first, then fold in the shredded saltfish and minced aromatics and vegetables. Continue mixing until you reach a thick, lump-free batter.
   ▶ ≈1:28
5. 5
   Season to taste: sample the batter and adjust the salt level if needed for proper seasoning.
   ▶ ≈2:02
6. 6
   Heat the oil: add cooking oil to a frying pot and allow it to heat through.
   ▶ ≈2:16
7. 7
   Fry the fritters: carefully scoop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, leaving enough space between each fritter so they don't stick together. Use a fork to gently separate them as they start to fry.
   ▶ ≈2:22
8. 8
   Cook until golden: fry for about 2 minutes on each side until the fritters are golden brown and cooked through.
   ▶ ≈2:40
9. 9
   Drain and serve: remove the cooked fritters to paper towels to drain excess oil, then continue frying the remaining batter.
   ▶ ≈2:46