Peppered Snail stew

Peppered Snail

Peppered Snail is one of Nigeria’s treat dishes. At parties this is first dish to finish. Since discovering that I can enjoy hot and soft boli  (roasted plantain) in the comfort of my home, I have not seized to find different enjoyable combinations.
Plantain in addition to the  good carbohydrate content, also provides adequate levels of minerals such as iron for good blood formation;  magnesium, and phosphorous. Magnesium is essential for bone strengthening and has a cardiac-protective role as well. And Phosphorus……..

 

Snail is an such interesting protein source and a tasty option for those trying to control their cholesterol levels in red meats. I am looking forward to starting a snail farm soon……hmmm some business idea! Might even consider export to Nigerians in Europe and the USA.
Snails are have been found to have a higher protein and iron content, and lower fat content, than beef, as well as containing many essential nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and vitamin A.
As a child in primary school, I remember using the yellow snail eggs for gluing torn exercise books. Guess should try to find something really gourmet to do with these snail eggs rather than use them as glues.

What puts most people off snails is the washing and the slime. Some of the things that are used include salt,garri, lime, or alum. I use both salt and lime to get my best result. These keep the snails firm. Usually I dissolve alum in water so I am just rinsing the snail for a few seconds to remove the last bit of slime.

Aside from the cleaning of the snail ,Peppered Snail is quick dish to fix . Snila cooks quite fast.These days though snails can be washed for you in the market. If you decide on this option insist on the use of lime . Alum cleans the slime fast but leaves the snails too soft and the texture after cooking is not then crunchy which I think is one of the interesting things about eating snails , that crunchy sound when you bite into the snail.
Enjoy this simple my offering of Peppered Snail

Recipe for Peppered Snail?

Ingredient
8 pieces Snails( cleaned)
6 cooking spoons tomato/pepper blend ( boiled )
1 Onion ( chopped in rings )
1 Onion( cubed)
4 fresh peppers( chopped in to rings)
1/2teaspoon ground chili  pepper
2cooking spoons groundnut oil
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 beef seasoning cube
Salt to taste

Method
1, Season the snails with dry pepper, some cubed onion,1/2teaspoon curry powder,1 beef seasoning, allow to marinate for about 10 minutes
2, Steam the snail  with 1/2 cup of water for 10 minutes and set aside
3,Heat the oil add the seasoning and fry the chopped onion rings and pepper, fry for 2 minutes, remove and set aside
4, Add the remaining cubed onion fry for 2 minutes
5, Add ground tomato/ pepper mixture. Fry till  dry.
5 Add the snails , little stock from steaming the snail ,remaining curry powder , seasoning cube and cook for another five minutes.
6, Serve with you roasted plantain rings and the onion/ pepper rings
7, Snail  stew goes well with boiled white rice also.