How To Prepare Traditional Outer Banks Food

One of the many reasons Hatteras Island, NC, attracts copious amounts of visitors is because of their local recipes. From fresh flounder and tuna to crab and shrimp, Outer Banks food is undoubtedly the best around. Taste the goodness yourself by preparing the following three local recipes in your Brindley Beach vacation rental.

OUTER BANKS FOOD EXTRAORDINAIRE, SHARON PEELE KENNEDY

Hatteras Island chef, Sharon Peele Kennedy, has spent years perfecting local recipes. She quickly turned heads after her lively cooking demonstrations at the Outer Banks Food Festival and her presence on multiple local radio stations. Her recipes, and persona, gained so much recognition that she combined the two into her book, “What’s for Supper?” Visitors and locals alike adored her unique twist on local recipes so much that Sharon continues to publish updated cookbooks—she’s just released her third edition! Our Brindley Beach team narrowed down our favorite recipes to local dishes you can make while on vacation.

Crab Broil

Click here to watch her video with further instructions.

Steamed Shrimp

With Sharon Peele’s Shrimp 101 cooking skills, it’s hard to prepare shrimp poorly. To start, bring your pot of water to a rolling boil and squeeze fresh lemons into your boiling water. This will add the same amount of flavor to your shrimp as salt and pepper, but won’t dry out your meat. Sharon encourages viewers to base the required water off of the amount of shrimp they’re preparing. Brown shrimp are smaller than white shrimp and require less water— they also cook quickly (without getting tough) when sauteed, stewed, or steamed. All you have to do is add shrimp to your pot of rolling water and turn off the flame. The shrimp will cook for about four minutes before they’re pink and ready to be drained from the water. Sharon recommends serving shrimp on ice, so they stop cooking. This also makes removing the shrimp’s shell a little bit easier. Check out Sharon’s detailed Shrimp 101 demonstration for additional sauce and seasoning recommendations.

BRINDLEY BEACH VACATIONS

Both boiled crab and steamed shrimp are delicious dishes that you can prepare for your holiday celebrations. While some locals enjoy making Outer Banks food as the main entree, both recipes can also be used as appetizers. Be sure to share your creative twist on our local dishes during your stay in our Brindley Beach Hatteras Island vacation rentals! To learn more information about our favorite things to do in Hatteras, NC, contact us today!