Haitian Lambi Stew

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Warm, comforting and full of flavor, Haitian Lambi (Conch Stew) is a traditional Caribbean dish that’s both healthy and delicious.

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Thanks to a warm blend of spices and the tender conch that gives a subtle taste of the sea, this bowl of goodness will transport you to the islands with every single spoonful.

Using just the instant pot and with simple prep, it’s an easy-to-make soup that will keep you coming back for more.

Conch

Also known as lambi in Haiti, conch (pronounced ‘konk’) is a large sea snail native to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

Conch meat is not dissimilar to squid, with a firm texture and a fairly mild, sweet flavor with just a hint of saltiness. Like most seafood, it has plenty of health benefits! It is a great source of lean protein, iron and calcium and is also high in vitamins E and B12.

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You should be able to get hold of some fresh or canned conch meat at local fish markets or online. However, if you can’t find any, it can be easily substituted with whelk, clams, scallops or any other sweet shellfish. Though the flavor and texture won’t be quite the same, it will be just as tasty.

Spices And Flavorings

Typical of Caribbean cuisine, particularly in Haitian Cuisine, this lambi (Conch Stew) is packed full of bold and fiery flavors thanks to a unique blend of herbs, spices and base ingredients like onion and garlic, just as the spices found in our Haitian Epis.

The list of ingredients may look long, but many are staple items that you will probably already have in your pantry. 

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It is good to use fresh thyme and parsley however – the thyme adds a real earthiness to the dish and gives it that signature Haitian feel, while the parsley adds some brightness that helps to lift the broth.

If you would like to tone down the spiciness of the stew, you can always omit the Scotch bonnet, opt for a milder chilli or use a sprinkle of cayenne pepper instead. 

Why Is My Conch Meat Tough

When cooked in a soup or stew, conch meat requires a longer cooking time to avoid a tough and chewy texture. If you find that yours is a little hard to eat, it probably needs a longer time on the stove to be able to fully tenderize.

Some people also like to tenderize the meat a little before cooking, usually by pounding it with a meat mallet. However, you need to be careful to not pound it so much that it starts to fall apart. In this recipe, we also used a meat mallet to tenderize the meat.

How To Clean

When cleaning seafood or any meat for that matter, it is best that you take your time to properly clean the meat. We explained our meat cleaning method here in our Poulet en sauce post.

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To clean your conch, begin with placing the meat in a bowl. Using lemon, lime, or sour orange, cut the citrus in half, squeeze out the juice, and thoroughly rub the citrus over the conch.

Next, rinse the meat with cold water, then repeat the step with the other half of the citrus. Rinse again thoroughly with cold or lukewarm water, then drain.

How To Prepare

Cooking your Haitian lambi is very simple and easy. The exact measurements are found in the recipe card below. For now, here’s a quick guide to help you prepare it perfectly each time.

Cut the lambi into bite size pieces.

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Pounce the meat with a meat mallet (tenderizer; see picture above). Wash the lambi as described above. Drain and set aside in a bowl.

In a small food processor, add the oil, shallots, and garlic, salt and pepper, and lemon juice. Blend well.

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Pour the seasoning over the meat. Mix well to combine. Cover with plastic wrap or with the appropriate dish cover, marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes, but overnight is best.

When ready to cook, press sauté on the instant pot and adjust the timer to 30 minutes. Add the oil. Then heat the oil. Next, add the tomato paste, shallots, and marinated lambi – Transfer the meat along with the marinading juice in the instant pot.

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Next add the thyme, water, scotch bonnet pepper, lemon juice, and the extra bouillon cubes. Cover and turn the knob to sealing. Stir a couple times. Cook for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

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When the timer goes off, carefully quick release. Serve over rice or boiled plantains.

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Serving Suggestions

Just like many of our Haitian stews, Conch or lambi goes well with our Haitian Black Rice. Here are a few more favorite paring suggestions for this stew.

Yellow Yams

Fried Plantains

Mayi Moulen

May Moulin Ak Zepina

Instant Pot Haitian White Rice

Haitian Red Beans and Rice

How To Store

As conch is a type of seafood, care should be taken when storing and refrigerating your stew. Always store any leftovers in an airtight container after they have cooled down.

If you have used fresh conch, you should consume the stew within 1 day, though canned conch should be fine for up to 2. However, use your discretion – if the stew smells overly fishy then it’s probably best to throw it out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Preparation Tips

When preparing the meat, be sure to not let the lambi sit in hard acid (vinegar), as this will make the meat though and chewy. Acid or vinegar will begin to cook the meat.

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Always clean your meat (as described above). This will help get rid of germs and will get rid of the fishy smell.

We recommend you marinate the meat overnight if necessary so that the spices can fully develop in the meat.

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