KINGSTON, Jamaica –

Did you know that Jamaica’s ackee and saltfish was ranked by the National Geographic as second among the world’s best national dishes?

Albeit citing its origins as slave food, the popular National Geographic says ackee and saltfish is out-ranked only by the United States’ hamburgers.

(Photo: jamaicamyway.com)

According to the Top 10 National Dishes list, which was taken from the National Geographic book Food Journeys of a Lifetime, ackee is a “nutritious fruit with a buttery-nutty” flavour and “resembles scrambled egg when boiled”.

NG also said that “Jamaicans sauté the boiled ackee with saltfish (salt-cured cod), onions, and tomatoes” adding that it is sometimes served “atop bammy (deep-fried cassava cakes) with fried plantains”.

Jake’s in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, received a notable mention in the National Geographic as “renowned for ackee and saltfish”.

Barbados too made the NG list, third with their coo-coo and flying fish. The National Geographic described it as “a polenta-like cornmeal and okra porridge” adding that “coo-coo pairs perfectly with flying fish, which is either steamed with lime juice, spices, and vegetables or fried and served with a spicy sauce”.

Korea’s bulgogi, Kibbeh, which the National Geographic attributed to Lebanon or Syria, and Hungary’s Goulash were fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, on the list of best national dishes.

Austria’s wiener schnitzel, France’s pot-au-feu, England’s roast beef and yorkshire pudding, as well as Ireland’s Irish stew, rounded off the top 10 in seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth positions respectively.

See the original National Geographic’s Top 10 National Dishes.