Conch fritter
{{Short description|Dish in Bahamian cuisine}}
{{notability|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox food|name=Conch fritters|type=Fritter|course=Appetizer|region=The Bahamas|associated_cuisine=Bahamian cuisine|served=Hot|main_ingredient=Conch, cornmeal, diced vegetables|image=Conch fritters Mango Festival 2011.jpg|caption=Conch fritters and dip}}
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.{{cite book | title=Introduction to Virgin Islands | website=Google | isbn=978-3-86426-048-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AhjAEAAAQBAJ | access-date=2024-04-21 | last1=Gilad James | first1=PhD | publisher=Gilad James Mystery School }}
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.{{Cite web |title=Conch Fritters Through Time: Human Predation and Popoulation Demographics of Lobatus gigas on San Salvador Island, The Bahamas |url=https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/sepm/palaios/article-abstract/34/8/383/573097/CONCH-FRITTERS-THROUGH-TIME-HUMAN-PREDATION-AND?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=pubs.geoscienceworld.org}} The dish is popular in Bahamian restaurants and was described by Time as "the Bahamas' own original fast food".{{Cite magazine |last=Campbell |first=Penny |date=2004-03-21 |title=Fried And Fabulous |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,603217,00.html |access-date=2023-06-18 |issn=0040-781X}}
They are also popular in Florida, where they are typically served with key lime mustard.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-05 |title=17 Iconic Florida Foods You Need To Try |url=https://www.tastingtable.com/1218051/iconic-florida-foods-you-need-to-try/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Tasting Table |language=en-US}} The DNA of fried conch fritters exported to Florida from the Bahamas have been analyzed by researchers to study Queen Conch populations.{{Cite journal |last1=Natesh |first1=Meghana |last2=Taylor |first2=Ryan W. |last3=Truelove |first3=Nathan K. |last4=Hadly |first4=Elizabeth A. |last5=Palumbi |first5=Stephen R. |last6=Petrov |first6=Dmitri A. |last7=Ramakrishnan |first7=Uma |date=June 2019 |editor-last=Yu |editor-first=Douglas |title=Empowering conservation practice with efficient and economical genotyping from poor quality samples |journal=Methods in Ecology and Evolution |language=en |volume=10 |issue=6 |pages=853–859 |doi=10.1111/2041-210X.13173 |issn=2041-210X |pmc=6738957 |pmid=31511786|bibcode=2019MEcEv..10..853N }}
Description
The meat of a conch is minced before cooking to tenderize it.{{Cite web |title=Conch Fritters {{!}} Traditional Sea Snail Dish From The Bahamas {{!}} TasteAtlas |url=https://www.tasteatlas.com/conch-fritters |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=www.tasteatlas.com}} The mince is then mixed into a seasoned fritter batter made of cornmeal, chopped vegetables, typically including onions, bell peppers, celery and jalapeños.{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2021-11-28 |title=Easy and Delicious Conch Fritters Recipe |url=https://stiltsvillefishbar.com/easy-and-delicious-conch-fritters-recipe/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Stiltsville Fish Bar |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-18 |title=Conch Fritters |url=https://www.local10.com/soflo-taste/2023/02/18/conch-fritters/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=WPLG |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Gassenheimer |first=Linda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJ3ymEDh91wC&dq=conch+fritters&pg=PA42 |title=The Flavors of the Florida Keys |date=2010 |publisher=Atlantic Monthly Press |isbn=978-0-8021-1953-7 |pages=42 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Conch Fritters |url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/conch-fritters-11279449 |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Food Network |language=en}} Lemon juice, tomato paste, black pepper and creole seasoning are commonly used.{{Cite book |last=Davis |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TUmmEAAAQBAJ&dq=conch+fritters&pg=PA9 |title=POTS!!!: No-Frills Recipes |date=2023-01-08 |publisher=Gatekeeper Press |isbn=978-1-6629-1903-9 |pages=9 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-12-15 |title=Bahamian Conch Fritters with Calypso Sauce Recipe |url=https://www.marlinmag.com/food-and-drink/bahamian-conch-fritters-calypso-sauce-recipe/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Marlin Magazine |language=en-US}} The batter mixture is then formed into balls and deep fried.{{Cite book |last=Gassenheimer |first=Linda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FgSCn1vYC5gC&dq=conch+fritters&pg=PA7 |title=Keys Cuisine: Flavors of the Florida Keys |date=1994 |publisher=Atlantic Monthly Press |isbn=978-0-87113-540-7 |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Jr |first=R. W. Apple |date=2002-01-30 |title=True Pearls Of the Caribbean |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/30/dining/true-pearls-of-the-caribbean.html |access-date=2023-06-18 |issn=0362-4331}} They are served with various dipping sauces, such as cocktail sauce, mayonnaise or ketchup.{{Cite web |title=Authentic Bahamian Conch Fritters Recipe {{!}} Nassau Paradise Island |url=https://www.nassauparadiseisland.com/blog/recipe-conch-fritters |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=www.nassauparadiseisland.com}}{{Cite book |last=DeMers |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h229TouniGIC&dq=conch+fritters&pg=PA40 |title=Caribbean Cooking |date=1997 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-55788-271-4 |pages=40 |language=en}}