Conch fritters are the most requested appetizers or street foods throughout The Bahamas. They are lip-smacking good, and should always be Konky (loaded with conch meat), seasoned, herbaceous and served with a tasty aioli-style dipping sauce.
SERVES
8
Ingredients
Island gurl goombay sauce:
1 cup (250 mL) mayonnaise
1 teaspoon (5 mL) Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon (15 mL) sambal oelek (chili paste)
1 tablespoon (15 mL) fish sauce
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 tablespoon (15 mL) light brown sugar
1 fresh mint leaf, diced
1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) diced fresh dill
1 fresh basil leaf, diced
1 tablespoon (15 mL) ketchup
Fritters:
2 Queen conchs, diced
2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons (30 mL) baking powder
1/2 medium onion, finely diced
1 stalk celery, finely diced
1/4 cup (60 mL) diced green bell pepper
1/4 cup (60 mL) diced red bell pepper
1 tablespoon (15 mL) garlic, minced
1 tablespoon 15 mL) fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon (15 mL) tomato paste
1/2 cup (125 mL) ketchup
1 teaspoon (5 mL) Caribbean pepper sauce
2 cups (500 mL) water or clam stock
2 tablespoons (30 mL) seasoned salt or Old Bay Seafood Seasoning
Canola oil for deep frying
1 recipe Raquel’s GoomBay Sauce
Directions
Island gurl goombay sauce:
Place all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Fritters:
To prepare the conchs, place on a cutting board, using a sharp filet knife, remove the tough-dark outer layer of the meat. Butterfly the whole conch meat, dice, add to a small bowl and set aside.
Add flour and baking powder to a medium bowl. Add onion, celery, green and red bell peppers, garlic, thyme and mix with a fork.
Add paste, ketchup, pepper sauce, mix while pouring in the water or stock to form the batter, use more liquid if necessary for a thick lumpy batter. Add the conch meat and fold, add the seasoned salt and mix well with a wooden spoon.
In a 3-quart (3 L) straight-sided pot, add three inches (eight centimeters) of canola oil over medium-high heat. Increase temperature to 325˚F (160˚C). (Attach a clip-on frying thermometer to gauge heat.)
Use a tablespoon or small ice cream scoop to carefully drop batter into the oil. The fritters will stick to the bottom of the pot so use a slotted spoon to release, allowing fritters to float up to the top. Turn occasionally with the spoon and let fry until golden and cooked inside, about three to four minutes.
Remove fritters and set aside on a plate lined with paper towels.
Keep warm and serve immediately with the GoomBay Sauce.