Bahamian Conch Salad
A refreshing and zesty raw conch salad, a quintessential Bahamian appetizer or light meal, featuring finely chopped conch 'cooked' in citrus juices and mixed with fresh vegetables.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 lb Fresh Conch Meat(cleaned and tenderized, about 1 lb)
- 1 cup Lime Juice(freshly squeezed, from about 8-10 limes)
- 0.5 cup Orange Juice(freshly squeezed)
- 1 small Red Onion(finely diced)
- 1 medium Green Bell Pepper(finely diced)
- 2 medium Tomato(seeded and finely diced)
- 0.5 small Scotch Bonnet Pepper(finely minced, seeds removed for less heat)
- 0.5 cup Cilantro(chopped)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black Pepper(freshly ground, or to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the conch: If using whole conch, remove the meat from the shell and trim away the tough, dark outer membrane. Pound the conch meat with a mallet or the flat side of a heavy knife until tender and flattened. Finely dice the conch meat into small, bite-sized pieces.
- 2
Marinate the conch: Place the diced conch in a glass or ceramic bowl. Pour the lime juice and orange juice over the conch, ensuring it is fully submerged. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20-30 minutes, or until the conch turns opaque and appears 'cooked' by the acid.
- 3
Prepare the vegetables: While the conch is marinating, finely dice the red onion, green bell pepper, tomato, and scotch bonnet pepper. Chop the cilantro.
- 4
Combine ingredients: Once the conch is opaque, drain off about half of the citrus juice. Add the diced red onion, green bell pepper, tomato, minced scotch bonnet pepper, and chopped cilantro to the bowl with the conch. Season with salt and black pepper.
- 5
Mix and chill: Gently toss all the ingredients together to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Cover and refrigerate for another 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- 6
Serve: Serve the conch salad chilled, often with saltine crackers or plantain chips on the side.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the conch meat is very fresh. If you are not comfortable preparing raw conch, ask your fishmonger to do it for you.
- ✓The citrus juice 'cooks' the conch. The longer it marinates, the more tender it will become, but don't over-marinate to the point of mushiness.
- ✓Adjust the heat by controlling the amount of scotch bonnet pepper and whether you include the seeds.
🔄 Variations
- Add diced avocado for a creamier texture.
- Include some finely chopped celery for added crunch.
- A splash of hot sauce can be added for extra kick.