Bahamian Food: Top Dishes And Drinks To Try In The Bahamas

From conch fritters to guava duff, Bahamian food is known for being flavorful, coastal and colorful. This fusion fare is influenced by the cuisines of Europe, the United States and the Atlantic coast of Africa. As someone who grew up by the ocean and lived next door to an Alaskan fisherman, I love the emphasis placed on fresh seafood. And the tropical fruits, bright spices, hearty stews and bowls of grits are all just perfect. Nothing beats the blend of produce, starches and marine ingredients that Bahamian cuisine offers. With culinary training and chef experience under my belt, I have zero notes.

The Bahamas’ food culture comes from a long line of cultural exchange. Grits landed on the shores when American Southerners immigrated, and West Africans introduced all kinds of stews, fritters and water-efficient cooking methods that did well in a land with little drinkable water. British people brought with them the art of steaming and fruit-based breads and pastries. Meanwhile, those from the West Indies offered, among other concoctions, my favorite: curries. And, when local communities were small and lacked preservation methods, seafood offered a perfect protein solution (land animals like goats and pigs were too big to slaughter if there weren’t enough people to eat the meat immediately). It’s this diverse and land-based heritage that sits at the heart of The Bahamas’ traditional food. It’s a fare I keep returning to, both as a diner and as a cook. 

Read on to learn all about Bahamian food and drinks. And, if by the end you’re itching to try these delicacies in person, you can always book a Royal Caribbean cruise to The Bahamas.

Dish It Out: Popular Bahamian Foods To Try Immediately

There are many popular Bahamian dishes that everyone should try, whether they’re on a short weekend getaway in the country or at home planning dinner. The conch food items are delightfully light, the Bahamas’ fish plates are cooked tenderly and desserts from The Bahamas could please even those who, like me, have a massive sweet tooth. Ingredients like okra, tomatoes, pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, yams, cocoplums, guavas, mangos, bananas and more reign supreme. Think main courses chock-full of seafood, wholesome rice dishes, flavor-packed stews and rum-soaked pastries.

Here are some of the most popular dishes in Bahamian cuisine:

Bahamian Breakfast Foods

● Steamed Corned Beef: Also called Fire Engine, this popular Bahamian food mixes canned corned beef, tomato paste and sautéed veggies over grits.

● Chicken Souse: If you love chicken noodle soup, you’ll love this breakfast soup that’s packed with chicken, onions, carrots and spices.

● Fish Stew: This dish includes lime-marinated white fish, like turbot, stewed in spices and a roux.

● Johnny Cakes: This sweet bread can be eaten with heavier dishes or just topped with cheese.

● Tuna and Grits: This is an alternative to Fire Engine, pairing tuna salad (canned tuna, lime juice, mayonnaise and onions) with grits.

● Boiled Grouper: This breakfast fish dish is seasoned with lime, thyme and hot peppers. 

Bahamian Vegetarian Dishes

● Peas n’ Rice: Perhaps the most popular side dish in The Bahamas’ traditional food tapestry, Peas n’ Rice is a mixture of rice, pigeon peas, tomatoes, thyme and onions.

● Baked Macaroni: This pasta dish includes big, tubular noodles, mild cheddar cheese, yellow onions, eggs and evaporated milk — sometimes goat pepper and bell peppers too.

● Fried Plantains: Bahamian-style fried plantains are sweet, soft and go with everything.

● Potato Salad: The Bahamian version of this famous dish is served chilled and comprises boiled potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, sweet peppers, mayonnaise and onions.

Bahamian Seafood Dishes

● Conch Salad: Similar to ceviche, this conch food concoction is a salad of raw conch, goat pepper, onions, sweet peppers and, often, some kind of fruit like pineapples.

● Lionfish Tacos: Lionfish, an invasive species, is served in all kinds of ways in The Bahamas, but the flaky fish is great when seasoned with goat pepper and lime as a taco.

● Crab n' Dough: By boiling crabs and bread together, this dish is essentially a giant seafood dumpling.

● Conch Fritters: This fried appetizer’s dough includes conch, onions, goat pepper and green peppers, and is served with spicy sauce for dipping.

● Baked Crab: Prepared as an appetizer, the crab is baked in its shell and seasoned with breadcrumbs and spices.

● Broiled Crawfish: Seasoned with spices and lime juice, Bahamian crawfish is often broiled for a succulent bite. 

● Cracked Conch: Unlike fritters, the conch in this conch food dish is pounded and marinated before being battered or breadcrumbed and fried — anyone planning a cruise should try this when they’re in The Bahamas. 

Bahamian Meat Dishes

● Chicken-In-The-Bag: This go-to lunch item is fried chicken over French fries and served with ketchup, mayonnaise and hot sauce.

● Bahamian Hot Patties: Though Hot Patties can be made with vegetables or salt fish, the most common pastry filling is beef, which is housed in a pasty-like pocket.

● Steamed Chicken: The chicken here is actually braised with tomato sauce, herbs and spices before being served with a starchy side. 

Bahamian Desserts

● Rum Cake: This rum-heavy bundt cake is made with and soaked in rum, and often served with coffee.

● Guava Duff: This rolled dessert is my favorite out of all of the desserts from The Bahamas, being steamed with the perfect amount of guava inside before being drizzled with sweet rum sauce.

Sailing Sips, Bahamian Beverages

The Bahamas is known for its beverages, and the country’s drinks are definitely worth trying either at home or on a seven-day cruise. I’m a piña colada fan through and through, so all of the traditional cocktails that have a place in The Bahamas’ food culture are completely up my alley. From the vibrant and fruity cocktails to the light and citrus-heavy beers, Bahamian beverages are all equally perfect for a beach day. 

Here are five of the most popular Bahamian drinks:

● Bahama Mama: Rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, grenadine and lime juice.

● Yellow Bird: Rum, Galliano, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine.

● Nassau Royale: Rum, Nassau Royale Liqueur, pineapple juice, orange juice, grenadine and bitters.

● Goombay Smash: Rum, apricot brandy, pineapple juice and orange juice – you can try a really fun version of this at Perfect Day at CocoCay!

● Planter’s Punch: Rum, Allspice Dram, lime juice, simple syrup, club soda and bitters.

Sample And Sail: Where To Grab Bahamian Cuisine On-site

There’s nothing like eating authentic cuisine while traveling. It’s for sure a highlight for me whenever I’m abroad, whether that’s on assignment or on vacation. I always try to get at least one meal that’s comprised of traditional cuisine and one that highlights the modern culinary landscape of wherever I’m traveling — for example, in Scandinavia, I make sure to have at least one Viking-fare meal and one New Nordic meal. 

In The Bahamas, you can ask a local for their favorite old-fashioned and contemporary restaurants, or check out these places where you can grab a bite and sample some great Bahamian food: 

● While in Freeport: The Stoned Crab Restaurant, Banana Bay, Flying Fish GastroBar.

● While in Nassau: Gourmet Seafood House, The Salty Crab, Linda’s Place.

● While in Bimini: Joe's Conch Stand, My 3 Daughters Restaurant, Brennen's Grill.

Cruise For Cuisine With Royal Caribbean