BAHAMIAN CONCH FRITTERS

The Caribbean Islands are full of beauty and are home to many different cultures. The main attraction-Caribbean sea is so clear and blue and it’s relatively shallow, so most of the light is reflected. As a result, we have beautiful clear blue water which is pure bliss to the eyes and a treat to the adventurous soul!

The Bahamas is an unmatched destination, breathtakingly beautiful with across 100,000 squares miles of the world’s clearest ocean. It is a tourist’s dream with tropical Islands surrounded by turquoise waters, some even offer pink sand beaches to visit. The main fun activities in the Bahamas are many including water sports, fishing, boating, diving, snorkeling, sailing and ofcourse duty-free shopping. When it comes to authentic spicy Bahamian dishes, conch tops the list. Many often wonder what is Conch meat exactly?

Bahamian Conch Fritters is considered to be the main food of Bahamas, a food worth trying whenever you visit! It is a marine snail with an iconic shell that serves as a culinary staple there. Conch meat can be eaten many different ways like raw in salads, deep-fried as fritters, in chowders and gumbos, and even in burgers. It can be enjoyed on their own for a light meal, as an appetizer or as a side dish with a salad, rice or fries.

Pronounced konk, this seafood meat comes from an oversized sea snail native to the coasts of the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Regardless of the way it is cooked, raw or prepared- it always turns out irresistibly delicious. Some best places to get your hands on the most freshest and mouthwatering conch in Bahamas are

1- Goldie’s conch house- Nassau

2- Mckenzie’s fresh fish and conch- Bridge

3- The salty crab- Nassau

3- Oh Andros- Nassau

4- Crabs-N-Tings- Nassau

5-Bahamian cooking restaurant and bar- Nassau

6- Twin brothers- Nassau

7- Joe’s conch stand- Bailey town

8- Queen conch- Dunmore town.

TRADITIONAL VALUE OF BAHAMIAN CONCH FRITTERS

Whether talking about culture, tradition or simple sustenance, food is a central part of human life. It also carries great symbolic value in the lives of people. To share a meal with someone goes beyond the food itself; it extends to an experience of togetherness and community. When discussing food culture, we often look to positives, such as wide diversity in cuisines, richness of flavours and an open space for cultural interaction. The positive impact of food bringing people together is remarkably undeniable.

Due to the popularity of conch in the Caribbean, one can easily find the dish throughout the islands, with many different cooks adding their own spices to the mix in order to keep their menu unique. Therefore, it’s best to try it at a few restaurants to compare different textures and flavors of the famous  fritters.

BEST SERVED WITH

The classic fritters fried until golden brown and crispy, is best accompanied by a Bahamian-style dipping sauce consisting of lime juice, mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. These crispy snacks go well with homeland remoulade sauce, tartar sauce, cocktail sauce or any sauce of your choice.

RECIPE

Here’s our favorite conch fritter recipe, follow these get cooking and treat yourself to the flavors of the Bahamas without travelling so far!

Ingredients:

1 quart oil for frying

¾ cup all-purpose flour

1 egg

½ cup milk

Salt and pepper, to taste

Cayenne pepper, to taste

1 cup chopped conch meat

½ medium white onion, chopped

½ green pepper, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Directions:

STEP 1: In a large pot or deep fryer, heat oil to 365°F.

STEP 2: Mix the flour, egg, and milk in a large bowl.

STEP 3: Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper.

STEP 4: Mix in the chopped conch meat, onion, green pepper, celery, and garlic until well blended.

STEP 5: Drop rounded or desired shaped tablespoons of the mixture into the hot oil and fry until golden brown.

STEP 6: Drain on paper towels. Serve with ketchup, mayonnaise, chilli sauce or your choice of dipping sauce on the side.

CALYPSO SAUCE FOR THE WIN:

 INGREDIENTS:

  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 tsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp hot sauce
  • 1 tsp worcestershire sauce

ADDITIONAL TIPS:

Conch fritter batter can be frozen and used later for a quick munch. To reuse, remove from freezer and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour or until defrosted. Pour into a large bowl and add 2 teaspoon of baking powder, mix until baking powder is blended in. If the consistency is not thick enough, adjust with flour or water as needed. Please note that you may need to add seasoning to correct it according to taste.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF CONCH:

 

Calories: 130

Cholesterol: 65mg

Sodium: 153mg

Protein: 26.3mg

Omega 3: 0.1g

 

 YUMMY TREAT FOR KETO FOLLOWERS!

Good news for all the keto followers as conch is good because it is low in net carbs (1.7g of net carbs per 100gms of serving).  Now you can tantalize your taste buds while staying on a diet by following this easy recipe made in minutes.