Pan-Fried Trinidadian Bake with Spicy Saltfish Filling

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-25 · Updated 2026-05-25

Fluffy fried bread stuffed with a savory, spicy salted codfish mixture, a beloved Trinidadian breakfast classic. This Caribbean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 3/4 cup warm water
• for frying vegetable oil
• 8 oz, soaked overnight and shredded salted codfish
• 1 small diced onion
• 1 medium diced tomato
• 2 stalks chopped scallions
• 1 small finely chopped scotch bonnet pepper
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp for filling vegetable oil

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tbsp sugar. Gradually mix in 3/4 cup warm water, stirring until a soft dough forms. Knead for 5 minutes until smooth, cover with a damp cloth, and let rest for 30 minutes.
2. Step 2: While dough rests, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 small diced onion, 1 medium diced tomato, 2 chopped scallions, and 1 small finely chopped scotch bonnet pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
3. Step 3: Add 8 oz shredded, soaked salted codfish and 1/2 tsp black pepper to skillet. Cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until flavors meld and mixture is dry. Remove from heat.
4. Step 4: Divide dough into 8 equal balls. Roll each ball into a 5-inch circle. Place 2-3 tbsp of the saltfish filling in the center, fold over, and seal edges by pressing firmly.
5. Step 5: Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Fry each filled dough pocket for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and puffed. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.