I will show you the best ways to cook a snail delicacy in simple and affordable ways.
The giant land snail is frequently served as finger food, similar to how boneless chicken wings are served at a bar.
Once cleaned, the meat is low in fat and cholesterol and is relatively simple to prepare. Let me know if you know how tasty snail recipes they are.
Here are all the nutritional benefits of snails in our diets.
Snail is regarded as one of the most environmentally damaging pests globally due to its ability to consume over 500 different plant species and stucco from homes.
Snails not only wreak havoc on tropical and subtropical agricultural systems, but they also have male and female reproductive organs and reproduce quickly.
Now, these types of havocs are prominent in the united states, where most people see the snail as a pet instead of a delicacy.
In france, where the snail is a significant recipe and an incredible source of protein, it is not a treat to their farms as they are cultivated in large quantities to satisfy the teaming need for its consumption.
I will show you the best ways to cook snails and blend them with our traditional American cuisine.
These are the health benefits of Edible snails
What’s The Best Way To Cook Snails
From my experience, I prefer my snails cooked out of the shells, just as diversity is the spice of life; the same goes with cooking. I am an adventurous foodie, so I respect and embrace diversity.
Some people and cultures make their snail meal with the shells on. Because I use giant African snails, I like my snail dish deshelled.
Giant African snails are big and require gutting. I want to be sure the gut is entirely taken out. Whatever your choice may be, what is more, important is preparation and handling. So ensure the snails are prepared hygienically.
How Long Should You Cook Snails
I cook my snails until my fork can pierce through. Snail meats should be soft but not too soft because the chewy texture is part of the snail attribute.
If you use canned or dried-freeze snails, 20 minutes is enough.
How Long Should You Boil Snails
It takes 20 minutes to get your snail ready. If your snail is smoked or canned, there is an exception to this rule because canned and smoked snails have been cooked a little during the packaging process.
I will advise you to cook until the fork goes through the meat. Snail meat is crunchy, a bit chewy, but not tough. Always remember this!
Purchase your edible dried-freeze Giant African snail here
How Long Do Snails Take In The Oven
Place in the oven for 10-12 minutes at Gas mark 4/180 deg F/230 deg C, except for the shelled snails that should be left up to 15 minutes.
For frying and grilling, I boil my snail in some seasoning with little fluid, white wine or coconut milk or just water, to get some flavor for my sauce or soup and infuse in a bit of heat. Then fry or grill for an additional 5 – 10 minutes.
How Do I Know If Escargot Is Fully Cooked
Snails always come out chewy, but they should never be rubbery.
Cooking makes them lose about two-thirds of their weight, pierce a fork through it, if it passes, the meat is ready to serve or used in other recipes, one of which is stuffing them back into their shells with garlic butter.
Find out If snails are good or bad for consumption
Can You Overcook Snail
Yes, you can overcook snails if you leave them more than the expected time.
When using snail meat in soups and sauces, I always advise to boil, sear or fry separately.
Allow some fluid to get the flavor to add to the meal, set the snail aside and add a few minutes when the sauce is almost ready.
This procedure keeps the signature texture(crunchiness) and gives you the flavor from its fluid.
Unlike other snails(both sea snails and smaller land snails), African giant snails have their unique taste and give out their flavor to the meal rather than the other way round as its counterparts.
It is such delicious gastronomy. You should try it!
Here is an edible dried-freeze Giant African Land snail sold on Amazon
Are Snails Slimy When Eaten
A well-cleaned snail is not slimy when eaten if you have ever eaten a land snail that is slimy, oops! You had a badly prepared snail, sorry.
Snail meat is crunchy in texture without the slightest sign or feeling of slime.
Are Dried-Freeze Snails Cooked Or Raw
Dried-freeze snails are raw. All that is required is hot water (100 degrees) and the snails soaked for 2 hours, and you have your fresh snails!
Freeze-dried snail is just as nutritious as fresh snails. Freeze-dried snail meat retains 97 percent of its original nutritional value.
Freeze drying is one of the most effective methods for preserving food for long-term storage while retaining the highest nutritional value.
Other methods of food preservation, such as dehydrating and canning, use higher temperatures, which degrade the nutrition of the food. The food retains 97 percent of its nutritional value after being rehydrated.
One of the reasons for the consumption of snails is for its nutritional benefits but Does eating snails boost blood
How Do I Get Dried-Freeze Snails Ready For Use
To get my snails ready for you, first I get my bowl, fresh lemon juice, freeze-dried snails and water.
Steps:
- Boil water to a 100 degrees
- Place snail the bowl
- Add water and fresh lemon juice
- Cover and allow for 2 hours
I use fresh lemon juice to allow the flavor to infuse into the snails as they become soft. It gives it that hint of lemon flavor.
Do I Still Need To Cook Dried-Freeze Snails After Soaking
Yes, because dried-freeze snails are raw, and you should not eat raw snails. Snails are not cooked before being flash-frozen; they must be cooked as you would any other raw meat. Before eating, make certain that the food has been thoroughly cooked.
Cooking time remains 20 minutes, except you want to use a sauce you may cook at a shorter time to get a broth.
How Do You Clean Snails For Cooking
There a 3 ways to clean African giant snails getting the slime out before use:
What you need
- A mixing bowl
- Alum
- Lemon
- Lime
- Water
- Snail picker
- knife
Boiling
- Wash the body of the snail thoroughly to remove dirt and sand.
- Place snail in a pot and bring to a boil for 3 mins
- Take out water
- Run cold water on the snails
- Use a fork to take out the meat
- Remove the gut, which is the grey substance at the tail
- Allow them to sit for 5-10 minutes after adding the lemon juice.
- Scrub the snails with lemon juice until the sliminess has been removed.
Alum
- Wash thoroughly snail shells
- Break the pointed part of the snail shell. This process enables the removal of the shell to be easier.
- Use a snail picker to remove the snail from the shell.
- Place snails in a bowl
- Add some water and alum
- Allow for 2 minutes
- While alum is in water, massage snails, you will notice the slime separating from the meat.
- Change the water and add alum, and repeat the process
- Remove gut
- Use a knife to cut open snail foot
- Continue wash process
- Once all traces of slime is gone, rinse with clean water.
- Lime
- Wash the snail shells thoroughly
- Break the pointed part of the snail shell. This process makes the removal of the shell to be easier.
- Use a snail picker to remove the snail from the shell.
- Place snails in a bowl
- Add lime (squeeze lime juice in and leave the rind in the bowl)
- Allow for 2 minutes
- While in lime juice, massage snails, you will notice the slime separating from the meat.
- Change the liquid, add lime with a little bit of water for each change and repeat the process
- Remove gut
- Use a knife to cut open snail foot
- Continue wash process
- Once all traces of slime is gone, rinse with clean water.
Sweet And Spicy Snail Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 pound de-shelled snails
- half a red bell pepper
- 1 habanero chilli
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tsp crayfish, replaced with 1 tbsp fish sauce
- Barbecue Sweet sauce
- 2 teaspoons bouillon
- Carrots
- Sweetcorn
- Sweet peas
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of salt for cooking
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
To Prepare The Snails
In a pot, combine the snail, water, 1 teaspoon bouillon, salt, and pepper.
Let the snails cook for 20minutes.
Alternatively, fry the snails until they are crispy (about 10 minutes).
Set aside.
Making The Snail Sauce
Cut the habanero pepper, bell pepper, and onions into small pieces, and mince the garlic.
In olive oil, sauté the onions and garlic until fragrant.
Combine the red bell pepper, habanero pepper, 1 teaspoon bouillon, cayenne pepper, and ground crayfish in a mixing bowl after about 2 minutes. Add Carrots, Sweetcorn and Sweet peas and allow for 5 minutes on medium heat.
Add snails, stirring gently, and cover for 5 minutes.
Taste for salt and spices about halfway through and adjust as needed.
Serve and have fun!
Notes
This recipe serves four people and has six net carbs per serving.
If you don’t want it to be too spicy, leave out the cayenne pepper. This dish will already be spicy enough because of the habanero pepper.
Cook the snails covered and on medium-low heat to allow the flavors of the peppers and aromatics to penetrate fully.
If you don’t have ground crayfish, replace it with 1 tbsp fish sauce or leave it out entirely.
Final Thought
African giant snails are a tasty delicacy, it is a versatile protein that works with most dishes and I recommend it to you .
Either chopped, diced, or whole, snail meat alone or combined with other protein will give your dish a dash of flavor that your taste buds won’t easily forget.
I do everything possible to avoid the gooeyness of the slime; this is why I can’t stop using jebfood 3 in 1 freeze-dried snail. It saved me from getting my fingers into the slime.
Please give my recipe a try and let me know how about your first experience trying giant African giant snails.
