Bahamian cuisine is full of wonder and delight, and you need to try it! Here are the 10 best Bahamian recipes to get you started.
The Bahamas are part of the Caribbean Island, located in the northwest Indies. Unsurprisingly, as an island nation, Bahamian cuisine uses a whole lot of fresh seafood and fresh fruits. Bahamian cuisine is known worldwide for its diverse, fresh, and unique food.
10 Best Bahamian Recipes
We’ve found the 10 best Bahamian recipes for you to try at home! If you can’t make it to a tropical paradise, your second-best option is eating Bahamian cuisine!
There’s no time like the present to cook up a storm in the kitchen. Read on to find out more…
Guava duff pudding is a fan favorite in the Bahamas! In fact, Guava duff is so popular, it’s the national dessert of the Bahamas.
Guava duff is essentially a steamed pudding made from fresh guavas. It’s usually served with a sweet rum butter sauce that balances out the intensity of the guava.
A dough is made from boiled guavas, milk, and egg. This dough is then rolled into a log and placed into a pot of boiling water for an hour. Once it’s cooked, the pudding is cut into thick, generous slices.
Hot butter rum sauce is poured over the top of the pudding. Guava duff is a rich, sweet, unique dessert. There’s a reason it’s so popular after all!
2. Conch Salad
Conch salad is a crunchy, refreshing salad made from raw conch meat, which I will admit is a very peculiar meat indeed. It comes from a large sea snail that is native to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Conch meat tastes similar to seafood like salmon but has the texture of escargot.
This salad is usually made with fresh veggies, habanero pepper, citrus, and of course, conch! Conch salad is a delicious and special meal you can only find in the West Indies!
3. Peas and Rice
It may be simple, but it is absolutely divine! Peas and rice are staples in the Bahamian diet. It’s made with deep brown pigeon peas, long grain rice, tomatoes, onions, fresh thyme, tomato paste, and salted pork. Peas and rice originated in the nineteenth century when most Bahamians were growing their own crops.
They wanted a simple, easy, tasty, and satisfying meal they could make from their harvest. Peas and rice is still eaten today and is loved all over the country. It’s usually served with macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, plantain, and potato salad.
4. Macaroni and Cheese Pie
Traditional Bahamian macaroni and cheese is the best comfort food. Bahamian macaroni and cheese is just like the original with an extra special twist.
The addition of bell pepper, habanero pepper, and paprika makes this macaroni and cheese a showstopper. Bahamians eat their macaroni and cheese alone or as a side dish with peas and rice, coleslaw, or conch. Yum!
5. Johnny Cake
Johnny cakes are thin, fried, sweet cornmeal flatbread. They are eaten across the West Indies and the Atlantic Coast. People in the West Indies, Dominican Republic, Saint Croix, The Bahamas, Colombia, Bermuda, Curaçao, the United States, and Canada all eat Johnny cakes.
Johnny cakes are believed to date back to the early Native Americans. They slowly gained traction around the Atlantic ocean and are now well-loved by millions of people. Johnny cakes can be eaten alone or paired with jam, butter, cheese, or sauteed fish.
6. Chicken Souse
Bahamian grandmother always says that “chilis in this soup can kill the devil.” And they’re talking specifically about this hearty chicken souse meal! Chicken souse is essentially a Bahamian version of classic chicken soup.
It’s made with chicken wings, onion, bell pepper, potato, carrot, chili, allspice, and bay leaf. Chicken souse is another simple but delicious Bahamian meal. It will definitely leave you wanting more!
7. Pea Soup and Dumplings
Pea soup and dumplings are the perfect mid-winter meal. It’s comforting, and cozy, and will make you feel all warm inside.
Pea soup and dumplings are actually a reinterpretation of the classic British meal, pea soup. Bahamian soup is made with pork ribs, ham, pigeon peas, bell pepper, tomatoes, and potatoes.
The dumplings are little dough balls made from flour and milk. Pea soup and dumplings are a unique and versatile soup that will quickly become your new favorite recipe.
8. Crab and Rice
Crab and rice is a quintessential Bahamian dishes. It’s made with boiled crab and seasoned rice. It’s a no-fuss, all-flavor kind of meal. Crab and rice are very similar to peas and rice.
However, its rich, deep flavor comes from the crab fat rather than salted pork. Crab and rice is a celebration of local, fresh ingredients.