Dish in Bahamian cuisine
Conch fritters are a dish commonly served in The Bahamas and the Florida Keys. It is also a delicacy in the United States Virgin Islands.
History.
Conch, especially in fritter form, has been widely consumed in The Bahamas since the settlement of the islands by the Lucayan people although the increasing harvest of juvenile conches has negatively impacted their population. The dish is popular in Bahamian restaurants and was described by "Time" as "the Bahamas' own original fast food".
They are also popular in Florida, where they are typically served with key lime mustard. The DNA of fried conch fritters exported to Florida from the Bahamas have been analyzed by researchers to study Queen Conch populations.
Description.
The meat of a conch is minced before cooking to tenderize it. The mince is then mixed into a seasoned fritter batter made of cornmeal, chopped vegetables, typically including onions, bell peppers, celery and jalapeños. Lemon juice, tomato paste, black pepper and creole seasoning are commonly used. The batter mixture is then formed into balls and deep fried. They are served with various dipping sauces, such as cocktail sauce, mayonnaise or ketchup.