Cracked Conch (Bahamian Fried Conch)
Local name: Cracked conch
In short: Bahamian fried conch pounded thin, coated in seasoned flour and fried until golden, served with lime and hot sauce. Crisp outside, tender within. It takes about 37 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 37 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 380 kcal
Cracked conch is conch meat pounded thin, coated and fried until golden, the Bahamian answer to fried calamari. The pounding is what makes it tender, so do not skip it. It comes hot from the pan with lime wedges, a spicy dipping sauce, and peas 'n' rice and coleslaw alongside. Conch turns chewy if overcooked, so fry it fast in small batches and drain it well.
Instructions
- Place the conch steaks between sheets of plastic wrap. Pound with a meat mallet until about 5 mm (1/4 inch) thick, then cut into strips 3 cm (1 inch) wide.
- Toss the strips with the lime juice, garlic, salt and pepper and leave for 10 minutes.
- Beat the eggs with the milk in one shallow dish. Mix the flour, paprika, onion powder and salt in another.
- Heat the oil in a deep skillet to 180°C (350°F). Dip each strip in the egg, then press into the flour to coat well on both sides.
- Fry in small batches for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until golden. Do not overcook, or the conch will turn rubbery.
- Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Serve right away with lime wedges and hot sauce.
Tips
- Pound firmly but evenly. If the conch tears, you are hitting too hard, and if it stays thick, it will be chewy after frying.
- Frozen conch is common and works well. Thaw it in the fridge overnight, and pat it very dry before seasoning so the coating sticks.
Questions and answers
What is cracked conch?
It is conch meat that has been pounded thin to tenderize it, then breaded and fried. The name comes from the way the meat is cracked open and flattened.
How do I keep conch from being tough?
Pound it thin and fry it for only about 2 minutes at 180°C (350°F). Longer cooking tightens the proteins and makes it chewy.
What do you serve with cracked conch?
Peas 'n' rice, coleslaw and fried plantains are common. Lime wedges and hot sauce are the usual dips.
How long does it take to make Cracked Conch (Bahamian Fried Conch)?
About 37 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cracked Conch (Bahamian Fried Conch)?
About 380 kcal per serving, with 36 g of protein, 25 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 380 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 36 g |
| Carbohydrates | 25 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 1150 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
