The archipelago of the Bahamas consists of over 700 different islands and is located to the north of Cuba. Of the many delicious meals and ingredients boasted by this territory, the best places to find fresh food are the vibrant and energetic street food markets.
Bahamian cuisine is primarily known for its exotic seafood, including conch, fish, lobster, shellfish, and crab, amongst the tropical fruits like peas, pork, and rice. Popular seasonings that are commonly introduced are chilies, tomatoes, garlic, cinnamon, and coconut.
Showcased at many festivals, including Bahamian Independence Day, Fox Hill Day, and Emancipation Day, most specialty dishes are made available for locals and tourists alike at restaurants, roadside stands, and beaches.
Nassau’s Doongalik Farmers’ Market is a multi-functional area as it serves as a popular arts facility during the week and a farmers’ market on Saturday. One will find a variety of cooked meals, vegetables, fresh bread, locally produced herbs, oils, and organic seasoning throughout the weekend. Moreover, many of the stalls sell freshly caught meat and seafood.
Along with the wide gamut of crafts and souvenirs sold at ‘Da Market,’ a marketplace introduced by the Bahamas National Trust, vendors also produce a wide selection of jams, jellies, and baked break in national parks every Saturday across the Abacos, Grand Bahama, and Nassau. Da Market has rapidly become part of the weekend shopping tradition of the Bahamians, as delicious sweets, seafood, and savory treats like conch fritters and quiche are thoroughly enjoyed.
To improve the overall agriculture of the Bahamas, an initiative known as the Field to Fork Community Farm tests and grows crops that are grown in various facilities. Once matured, they are sold to the farmers’ market alongside seasonings, seedlings, and herbs.
Based in Queen’s Highway, Island Farm is Eleuthera’s greatest open food market, as it offers an immense selection of products like pesto, dressings, local produce, and fresh bread.
Seafood shacks graced below the Paradise Island Bridge serve some of the island’s most delicious seafood. The stalls, set up by vendors, are where local tourists purchase lobster, conch, various fish, and shrimp. On Montagu Beach, the fish market is home to one of the largest selections of seafood and fish that any individual could possibly want. Full of stalls and wooden tables where both fishermen and chefs alike will season and clean their freshly caught produce, there are various delicious options made available.
Conch Fritters
Ingredients
- 4 cups vegetable oil
- ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ cup milk
- 1 salt to taste
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup chopped conch meat
- ½ chopped onion
- ½ chopped green bell pepper
- 2 stalks chopped celery
- 2 cloves chopped garlic
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a deep fryer, temperature 365 degrees
- Mix the flour, milk, and egg in a bowl. Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Mix in the onion, celery, conch meat, garlic, and bell pepper.
- Drop the batter into hot oil, fry until brown then drain on paper towels.
- Mix the ketchup, mayonnaise, salt, lime juice, and hotsauce. Serve a dipping sauce of your choice with the fritters on the side.