Taking a family vacation to the Bahamas? Ah! Doesn’t this sound like heaven? Spend quality time with your loved ones on a luxury cruise on the blue rough sea. Then, roam the island together and enjoy new culture and Bahamian cuisine.
You have no idea what adventure awaits you when you board your cruise ship from Fort Lauderdale!
However, no matter how much fun you get from sightseeing, exploring Bahamas cuisine is something else entirely! After all, food is the global language of love and connection, and The Bahamas offers visitors a truly unparalleled gastronomic experience.
Get ready to enjoy Bahamian hospitality with your family. Get ready to be amazed by the colorful flavors of Bahamian cuisine.
Discover the exotic essence of Bahamian cuisine
Bahamian cuisine truly reflects the rich history of the region. Did you know that Bahamian cuisine combines unique Caribbean, European and African flavors to create something new? The final product combines tropical fruits, fresh seafood and a variety of spices for an unforgettable experience!
Be prepared to be a bold foodie when you visit this place with your family! After all, the food culture here is more akin to attending a festival than sitting primarily at a formal dinner. Now, let’s take a look at the items you can’t miss during this unforgettable vacation.
10 Must-Try Bahamian Dishes
1. Conch Salad
If you’re in the Bahamas, don’t leave without trying conch salad at least once! The main ingredients are diced conch, chopped tomatoes, onions and peppers among other items. A marinade of lime, lemon, and orange juice is used in the preparation, and although the conch is somewhat “cooked” by the marinade, your conch salad will still be mostly raw.
2. Steamed crayfish
After a long day of travel, enjoy an exotic steamed crayfish dish with the family! Crayfish are a rather fierce-looking lobster-like seafood that goes by many names. These delicious, sweet-fleshed crustaceans are a must-try Bahamian delicacy and can be prepared in a variety of ways. However, in the Bahamas, steamed crawfish is served with a tropical fruit salad and lime juice to complement the saltiness of the crawfish.
3. Grilled crab
We guarantee you only have to try it once and your whole family will be hooked! You may be thinking, what’s new about grilled crab? That’s because you haven’t tried it in the Bahamas! The crabs are cooked in their shells, then removed and sprinkled with a variety of spices, before the prepared food is stuffed back into the shells and served hot.
4. Grits
This is an island staple, a simple cooked corn meal. There are countless ways to season and dress up this dish, so every time you order it at a new restaurant during your travels, it will taste different! This traditional dish, which has a delicate yellow-white hue, is made from a mixture of cornmeal and milk, stirred with cream, cream, cheese and salt. Grits are flavored with paprika, garlic, and cayenne pepper and can be a little spicy, so be prepared for the burn! The meal also comes with grilled shrimp, bacon or sausage to make it even more mouth-watering.
5. Fish stew
Bahamian fish stew is made with fresh local seafood, such as snapper or conch, and is simply perfect! Local herbs such as thyme, onions, potatoes, carrots and celery are common ingredients, along with a hint of tomato sauce. The best way to enjoy Bahamian fish stew is with a refreshing bottle of local beverage, such as Kalik (for adults) or thick slices of buttery johnny cake.
6. Cracked Conch
The cracked conch dish is as popular with traveling families as the conch salad! Crushed conch is made by beating the conch meat until soft with a mallet, then seasoning it, coating it in batter or bread crumbs, and frying it. In most places it is served with old sour sauce as a dipping sauce for cooked conch chunks.
7. Seuss
This famous Bahamian treat may seem exotic to your family, but you’re on vacation, why not try something new? The stew uses common ingredients like onions, lime juice, chiles, potatoes, and bay leaves, but the meat is tricky! Meat ranges from chicken or lamb tongue to pig’s feet or ox tail. This is a very delicious dish, so don’t say no until you try it!
8. Rum Cake
No family dinner is complete without dessert and a piece of rum cake is a favorite among visitors! Rum Cake is made with hand-blended rum, and vanilla adds just the right amount of flavor to this light, buttery cake. This is ideal for anyone with a sweet tooth. What’s more, it comes in a variety of flavors, including pineapple, banana, and coconut.
9. Johnny Cake
Made with just a few common ingredients like milk, butter, sugar, and flour, Johnny Cake is a great alternative to rum cake if you want something simple for the kids! They’re also often served at breakfast, cut into large slices, and even though you can eat the cake as is without anything, it’s even tastier with some butter or jam on top!
10. Guava Duff
Just try it once and you will remember the taste forever! The rum sauce drizzled over the dessert before serving is key to making this chopped guava cake perfect. Well, yes, it’s not suitable for little ones, but you can always order some Johnny Cakes for them while eating a finger-licking piece of cake!
Well, here’s our special list of 10 foods you can’t miss in the Bahamas, but you can always pack some storable items to take home! Why not stock up on local items like guava jam, pure coconut oil, or Bahamian hot sauce to bring some Bahamian flavor? Visit local markets like Potter’s Cay Dock or Nassau Straw Market for unique Bahamian spices and sauces. You can also gift these items to friends when you return, or try cooking Bahamian dishes at home using real Bahamian ingredients!
