Buzz
On rainy and windy days, relishing the flavors of stir-fried snails with tamarind or spicy chili will undoubtedly elevate your culinary experience.
Fragrant and sweet snails stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, enriched with the sweetness of snails harmonizing with the tanginess of tamarind and the richness of coconut, will surely enchant your family with these 'never out of style' snacks.
In just 15 minutes in the kitchen, you can indulge in a perfectly styled and delicious snack!
Let's explore the art of crafting delicious snail snacks together:
1. Spicy Chili Stir-Fried Snails
The aromatic and enticing dish of spicy chili stir-fried snails is sure to satisfy your 'addiction' cravings.
Ingredients for Spicy Chili Stir-Fried Snails:
- 1 kilogram of snails
- ½ tablespoon of sugar
- 3 stalks of lemongrass
- 3 fresh chili peppers
How to make Spicy Chili Stir-Fried Snails:
Step 1:
Soak the snails in a bowl of water, add a few slices of fresh chili, and soak for 2 to 2.5 hours to allow the snails to release all the dirt. (If using rice washing water, it's ideal as snails will become more slippery quickly)
Step 2:
Prepare by removing the snail's cover for easier consumption and quicker absorption of flavors.
Step 3:
- Clean and finely chop the lemongrass. Remove seeds from fresh chili and finely chop.
- Heat the pan, add oil, then sauté the lemongrass until fragrant. Add chili, toss in the snails, and stir together.
- Enhance the flavor with ½ tablespoon of sugar and a pinch of salt (adjust the salt based on the type of snail; the snails in this recipe are sea snails with inherent saltiness, so only add a little salt).
Step 4:
Cover and simmer for about 4 - 5 minutes until the snails are cooked.
Now, plate it up and savor the dish while it's hot!
You can dip it in a mixture of fish sauce with chili, ginger, and finely chopped lemongrass for an even richer flavor!
2. Coconut Stir-Fried Snails
Ingredients:
- 1 kilogram of snails
- 4 stalks of lemongrass
- 200 grams of shredded coconut meat
- Vietnamese coriander
- Seasonings: salt, cooking oil
Method:
Step 1:
Soak the snails in rice water for about 1 hour to remove slime and dirt. Then, rinse them thoroughly with clean water to clean the shells. Let them drain.
Step 2:
Prepare by removing the sharp tip of the snail's cover.
Step 3:
- Grind the coconut meat, extract the coconut milk. You can leave some shredded coconut for garnish and flavor when stir-frying the snails.
- Cut the lemongrass into segments, thinly slice a portion of the lemongrass, and crush the remaining part. Clean the Vietnamese coriander and finely chop.
Step 4:
Heat the pan, add oil, then when the sliced lemongrass is fragrant, continue until it releases its aroma. Add snails, coconut water, lemongrass segments, coconut strands, a pinch of salt, stir on medium heat for 5-7 minutes, then simmer over low heat.
Once the coconut water thickens, add Vietnamese coriander, a few slices of chili if you like it spicy, stir again, then transfer to a bowl and savor it while it's hot.
3. Tamarind Stir-Fried Snails
Ingredients:
- 1 kilogram of snails
- 6 ripe tamarinds
- 3 fresh chili peppers
- 2 cloves of garlic
- Seasonings: salt, sugar, chili powder
- Cooking oil
- Hot water
Method:
Step 1:
Purchase the snails, clean them, soak in rice water for 1-1.5 hours to remove mud and dirt. Then, rinse them thoroughly with clean water.
Step 2:
- Take a large bowl, soak the tamarind in hot water until the flesh becomes mushy, then strain to remove the seeds.
- Crush and finely chop the garlic.
Step 3:
Heat the pan, add cooking oil, wait for the pan to heat up, then sauté the chopped garlic until fragrant. Add tamarind water, 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of chili powder.
Step 4:
Once the mixture boils, add the snails, stir gently, then simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens, turns deep brown, and coats the snail shells evenly. Adjust the seasoning to taste and turn off the heat.
Transfer the snails to a bowl and enjoy.
Note:
- You can apply a similar recipe with other types of snails such as murex snails, spindle snails, or limpet snails, and still achieve delightful results!
- Removing dead snails: Just a few dead snails can make your entire snail dish unpleasant. When purchasing, choose ones with full shells, indicating plumpness and freshness. Upon soaking in water, dead snails will float, and you can easily remove them.
