How to Make Bahamas Cruise Food at Home
If you have ever been on a Bahamas cruise, you might have fallen in love with the delicious and diverse cuisine of the islands. But you don’t have to wait until your next vacation to enjoy some of the most popular and mouthwatering dishes from the Bahamas cruise food. You can make them at home with some simple ingredients and easy steps. Here are some recipes that you can try to recreate the Bahamas cruise food experience in your own kitchen.
Conch Fritters
This is the national Bahamas cruise food, Conch fritters are crispy and savory balls of conch meat, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, flour, baking powder, and seasonings. They are deep-fried until golden and served with a tangy dipping sauce. Conch fritters are a great appetizer or snack that can be enjoyed any time of the day.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of conch meat, finely chopped or ground
- 1/4 cup of onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup of green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup of celery, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup of water
- Oil for frying
Dipping Sauce
- 1/4 cup of mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons of ketchup
- 1 tablespoon of hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the conch meat, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix well.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the baking powder and flour. Gradually add the water and stir to form a thick batter.
- Add the batter to the conch mixture and stir to combine.
- Heat oil in a deep-fryer or a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drop tablespoonfuls of the conch batter into the hot oil and fry for about 3 minutes per side or until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
- To make the dipping sauce, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.
- Serve the conch fritters hot with the dipping sauce on the side.
Peas and Rice
Peas and rice is a staple side dish in the Bahamas cruise food menu, made with pigeon peas, rice, onions, tomatoes, bacon, and spices. Peas and rice is often served with fried fish, stewed chicken, or other meat dishes. Peas and rice is a hearty and flavorful dish that can complement any meal.
Ingredients
- 4 slices of bacon, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 cups of long-grain white rice
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups of canned or frozen pigeon peas, drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons of butter
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until crisp, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, cook the onion and garlic until soft, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat with the bacon fat.
- Transfer the rice mixture to a large pot and add the chicken broth, salt, pepper, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
- Stir in the pigeon peas and butter and fluff with a fork. Sprinkle the bacon on top and serve hot or warm.
Johnny Cake
Johnny cake is a type of bread in Bahamas cruise food menu that is made with flour, sugar, butter, milk, and baking powder. Johnny cake is usually baked in a pan or skillet, and cut into slices. It can be eaten as a breakfast item with butter and jam, or as a savory accompaniment to soups and stews. Johnny cake is a simple and satisfying bread that can be enjoyed any time of the day.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 cup of butter, melted
- 3/4 cup of milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter and milk and stir to form a soft dough.
- Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and spread it evenly with a spatula. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature with butter and jam if desired.
Fried Fish
Fried fish is a simple and delicious dish that is very popular in the Bahamas cruise food menu. You can use any type of fish that you like, such as snapper, grouper, or mahi-mahi. Fried fish is usually seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and lime juice, and coated with flour or cornmeal before frying. Fried fish is often served with peas and rice, coleslaw, or salad .
Ingredients
- 4 fish fillets, about 6 ounces each
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour or cornmeal
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Rinse the fish fillets and pat them dry with paper towels. Season them with salt, pepper, garlic, and lime juice. Let them marinate for 15 minutes.
- Place the flour or cornmeal in a shallow dish and dredge the fish fillets in it, shaking off any excess.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the fish fillets for about 4 minutes per side or until golden and flaky. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve the fried fish hot with your choice of side dishes.
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Baked macaroni and cheese is a creamy and cheesy casserole that is a favorite comfort Bahamas cruise food . Baked macaroni and cheese is made with elbow macaroni, cheese, eggs, milk, butter, and seasonings. Baked macaroni and cheese is often topped with more cheese and bread crumbs before baking to create a crispy crust .
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup of evaporated milk
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons of bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish.
- Cook the macaroni in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
- Add the butter and 1 1/2 cups of cheese to the macaroni and stir until melted.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Pour over the macaroni and cheese mixture and stir to combine.
- Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and bread crumbs on top.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
- Serve the baked macaroni and cheese hot or warm.
In this article, I have shared with you some recipes for Bahamas cruise food that you can make at home. You can enjoy the delicious and diverse cuisine of the islands without having to travel far. You can also impress your family and friends with your cooking skills and knowledge of the Bahamian culture. I have also shown you how to create a picture of a Bahamas cruise and its food using my graphic art tool. I hope you have found this article helpful and entertaining. Thank you for reading.
