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The secret to having clean, delicious boiled snails without any fishy taste

Boiled snails are a favorite dish for many people. Although easy to make, creating a delicious snail dish requires careful selection and preparation of the snails.

Administrator

22 February, 2024

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To get delicious boiled snails, it is not simply a matter of putting the snails in a pot and boiling them. It is a combination of many secrets, from selecting the snails, cleaning them, choosing the spices for boiling, to the specific boiling techniques described below.

How to choose good snails

When buying snails, to know if the snails are good and fat, you can lightly press the snail’s mouth with your finger. If the snail scales are right next to the mouth, it means that the snail is fat. If the scales are deep inside the shell, the snail is skinny.

If the scales of the snail are deep inside and there is a strange smell, it means that the snail is dead or rotten.

To have a clean and delicious boiled snail dish, you need to be careful in the process of selecting snails.

According to folk experience, when eating snails, you should eat them during the first few days or last few days of the lunar month, at this time the snails are fat with no smaller snails inside.

The best types of snails for boiling are rock snails, twisted snails, and mit snails.

Tips for cleaning snails

Snails often have a slimy substance and contain a lot of dirt. Therefore, after buying them, you need to clean them to remove impurities and make the snails more delicious after cooking.

Here are some small tips to help you clean snails quickly and effectively.

Use rice washing water: The best way to remove slime and dirt from snails is using rice washing water. Use a bowl filled with rice washing water and soak the snails for about 1-2 hours, all the dirt in the snail’s mouth will automatically come out. Just rinse it with water to have clean snails for cooking delicious dishes.

In addition, you can soak the snails in water mixed with vinegar, lime, and chili. All of these methods help to clean the snails better and reduce sand and dirt in the snail meat.

How to cook delicious boiled snails

After cleaning, you should put a few ginger leaves, ginger, or lemongrass lightly crushed at the bottom of the pot, then pour the snails in, add a little salt and a little water, and then boil them. The aroma of the spices will make the snails no longer fishy and have a fragrant smell after boiling.

Note: Do not add too much water to the pot, it will make the snails lose their sweetness.

The dipping sauce is considered the soul of the boiled snail dish.

In addition, you only need to boil the snails for 2-3 minutes, until the snail scales come off, do not boil them for too long as it will cause the snail meat to shrink, break, and become tough. During the cooking process, do not open or stir the snails in the pot before it boils.

How to make the perfect dipping sauce for boiled snails

Ginger fish sauce: Making ginger fish sauce is quite simple. First, you need to crush the ginger, squeeze out the juice. Next, mix it well with fresh chili and minced garlic. Then, add a little sugar and fish sauce to taste, and stir until the mixture thickens. Finally, just squeeze a little lemon juice into a bowl, sprinkle some shredded ginger on top, and you have made the perfect tasty dipping sauce for snails.

Tamarind fish sauce: You sauté purple onions and garlic until fragrant, then add tamarind concentrate, fish sauce, white sugar, and water to the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring until the spices are well combined. Wait for about 1 minute for the mixture to thicken, then turn off the heat. After that, just serve the tamarind fish sauce in a bowl, add some chopped chili, and it’s done.

Source: VTC.vn

Frequently asked questions

Firstly, choose healthy, active snails. Clean them thoroughly by brushing and rinsing multiple times with water and a little salt. Soak the snails in a mixture of water, vinegar, and salt for 30 minutes to remove any dirt or fishy taste. Rinse again and then boil in water with added ginger and lemongrass for a clean, delicious flavor.

Brushing and rinsing the snails multiple times with water and a little salt is essential. Soaking them in a vinegar, salt, and water solution for 30 minutes helps eliminate any unwanted odors or tastes. Be sure to also scrub the snails’ feet and head with a brush to ensure they are thoroughly cleaned.

Ginger and lemongrass are natural ingredients that help eliminate any remaining fishy taste in the snails. They add a subtle, clean flavor that enhances the taste of the snails without overpowering their natural flavor. These ingredients also have health benefits and can aid in digestion.

Yes, after boiling the snails, you can marinate them in a mixture of fish sauce, sugar, and chili. This will add a delicious, savory flavor to the snails. You can also add some lime juice to enhance the freshness and balance the flavors. Finally, be sure to cook the snails thoroughly to ensure they are tender and easy to eat.