We love traveling to the Bahamas for relaxing fun in the sun. Along with enjoying the beaches, one of our favorite things about visiting the Caribbean is the incredible food! And the snack that we absolutely just can’t get enough of are slightly crunchy, amazingly flavorful deep-fried Conch Fritters. Whenever we see them offered on a Bahamian menu we have to order a plate and try their version. Although we get our fill on the islands, when we get back home the desire for tasty little crispy fritters comes back strong. So it was definitely time to create an authentic Conch Fritters recipe that can be made at the house when the craving hits!
Bahamian Conch Fritters
Even if you’ve never tried Conch Fritters before, the concept is probably familiar… The tasty, tender fried fritters are similar in size to hush puppies with a consistency that is like a soft luxurious crab cake. But instead of being made with a simple corn batter, they are filled with a delicious blend of chopped fresh conch, peppers, and vibrant spices. Pro Tip: If you are ordering conch to make conch salad, buy another pound to make these irresistible seafood fritters! Homemade Caribbean-style Conch Fritters are surprisingly easy to make; we even use a food processor for super quick prep. After all of the ingredients are minced together, flavorful beer is mixed in to create a rich batter that’s then scooped and deep-fried in oil. The result is a plateful of fritters that are ultra moist and zesty on the inside, and wonderfully crispy on the outside. Make a batch of Conch Fritters and serve with your favorite seafood sauces to dip. They’re great as a hearty snack or party appetizer that will make you and your guests (almost) feel like you’re on an island vacation!
Ingredients You Need
Fresh conch meat can be a bit difficult to source, and I, therefore, recommend that you purchase it online and have it overnighted if not available locally. All of the other ingredients, however, are basic pantry staples that can easily be found at most grocery stores. To make the best authentic Conch Fritters recipe you need:
Conch meat – steaks or tenderized Veggies – seeded and chopped bell pepper, onion, and celery (also known as the Trinity in southern cooking) Habanero pepper – seeded All-purpose flour – the binder for the fritters Baking powder – gives the Conch Fritters a lighter consistency and not too dense Seasonings – dried thyme, salt, black pepper, paprika Mexican beer – or other light beer, or club soda Fry oil – vegetable or peanut are best
How to Make Conch Fritters from Scratch
This conch fritters recipe uses a deep frying method that requires a large, deep pot. It is also best to make with the help of a high-heat thermometer, like a candy thermometer, so that you get the oil to just the right temperature. To make Conch Fritters, first set a large 6-8 quart saucepot over medium heat on the stovetop. Attach the cooking thermometer to the side and add the oil to the pot. Bring the temperature to 360 degrees F. Meanwhile, set out a food processor. Cut the conch meat into large chunks, and pulse in the processor for a moment or two to chop into small pieces. Then add the seeded and roughly chopped bell pepper, chopped onion, chopped celery, and seeded habanero pepper. Pulse to chop the conch and veggies into fine pieces. Next, set out a mixing bowl and add the conch mixture. Stir in the flour, baking powder, thyme, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix the ingredients well. Finally, mix in the beer (or club soda) to create a dense batter. The consistency should be similar to a hushpuppy or small crab cake mixture. Once the oil is hot, use a 1 ½ tablespoon scoop (or a standard ice cream scoop) to portion the batter into balls. Gently and carefully drop the balls into the hot oil. Scoop and fry 8-10 fritters at a time, for approximately 4-5 minutes each. You can use a spoon to gently move them if they start touching, but otherwise, they should fry undisturbed. When done the fritters should be a deep golden-brown, but not burnt. Set out a paper towel-lined plate to drain the fried Conch Fritters. Once the first batch is ready, use a skimmer to move them to the plate. Cut one open to make sure it is cooked through, but still moist and slightly spongey. On the inside, it should look similar to the picture below… Repeat the scooping and frying process with the remaining batter. You’ll likely need to work in a total of 4-5 batches. When all of the Conch Fritters have been fried, serve warm with your preferred sauce and/or sides.
Tips & Tricks
If you are a lover of spice, throw in the habanero pepper with the seeds, too! This will kick up the heat level! Can’t find habanero pepper? Substitute with a jalapeño pepper instead! Before frying up all of the conch fritters, fry just one or two in order to taste them and make sure that the mixture has enough salt and tastes exactly how you want it!
Looking for More Fried Snack and Side Dish Recipes?
Golden Pan Fried Potato Cakes Jalapeno Hushpuppies Recipe Vegetable Pakora with Kale Perfect Maryland Crab Cakes (Baked or Fried) Sweet Potato Falafel with Tzatziki Sauce
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