Cow Wreck Conch Fritters Recipe



 

For the sake of scientific discovery and the benefit of all mankind, we have felt compelled to sample the conch fritters at every restaurant in the BVI. Bell Creque at Cow Wreck Beach on Anegada consistently serves the best conch fritters.  In fact, we believe that Bell makes the best fritters that we have had anywhere in the entire world.

 

After marveling at her fritters numerous times, I asked Bell how she made them so moist.  She said "Honey, come on in the kitchen and I'll show you!"

 

Her recipe is quite different from most others -- it is not corn meal or flour based!   Instead, the fritter batter is made from mashed potatoes and bread crumbs, with only a light touch of flour.  That is her secret to the nice moist and tender fritters with the delicately crisp crust. Here's the recipe:

 

Ingredients:

Conch meat - meat from 2 medium sized conch

1/2 cup lime juice

2 cups mashed white potatoes

2 eggs

1 cup bread crumbs

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 green bell pepper, chopped

Salt

Pepper

Method:

1. Conch meat should be cleaned. Only the sweet white conch flesh is used.

2. Tenderize conch meat by pounding gently until 1/4 inch thick.

3. Dice the conch meat into 1/4 inch cubes.

4. Marinate cubed conch meat in the lime juice for 30 minutes.

5. Combine remainder of ingredients and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste.

6. Add diced conch meat, discarding lime juice marinade.

7. Spoon fritters from bowl with a tablespoon. A large rounded spoonful is about right.

8. Shape fritters into balls.  You can flatten them slightly if you prefer, or leave them as a ball.  If you flatten them too much, they may not hold together while frying.

9. (Optional) Lightly dust the shaped fritters in breadcrumbs.

10. Deep fry at 350º until golden brown.

If fritters break apart while frying, they are most likely too wet. If this happens, add more bread crumbs to the batter.

Sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbs tomato ketchup

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup sweet pickle relish

1/2 Tbs Matouk's Calypso Hot Sauce

Mix the sauce ingredients. If you wish, add more Matouk's Calypso sauce to adjust to your liking.

Serve fritters with sauce for dipping.

You can get the Matouk's Calypso Hot Sauce from TriniFood.com, os substitute any other good Scotch Bonnet (habanero) hot sauce.