How to Cook Snails

Snails are a delicacy in many cultures. They serve as a lovely appetizer to virtually any meal, and thankfully, they are relatively easy to prepare.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Snails
• Cornmeal
• Large pot
• Water
• Large spoon

1. Purge the snails by feeding them cornmeal for about two weeks. This cleanses them, ensuring any toxins or impurities are out of their bodies. stop feeding the snails two days before cooking them.

2. Clean the snails under running water to remove any dirt or debris.

3. Boil a large pot of water.

4. Drop snails into the boiling water and let them remain there for about 15 minutes.

5. Skim the top of the water with a spoon or spatula to remove the foam that gathers at the top. This foam will be murky and needs to be removed every few minutes. When the foam stops forming, the snails are fully cooked.

6. Remove the snails from the water.

7. Remove any remaining shells from the snails. Quite often, the snails will separate from their shells during the boiling process but you may need to remove a few shells.

8. Chop the snails into small pieces and then season as you wish.

Tips & Warnings

• You can consume the snails whole but they tend to be very chewy. Most people prefer them diced or chopped.

• Be careful of the type of snails you cook. Helix Aspersa is the kind you want.

• You must purge the snails. If you don't purge them, they are not safe to eat.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish