I may have been a bit slow to try these as they have been a known food substance for thousands of years. I decided I’d give them an ‘escargot’ at a New Year’s Eve Party, and inflict, sorry, share them with my good friends. Apologies to any vegetarians reading this – you may want to skip reading about this new experience!
S'nailed It
Before you curl up your nose and dismiss these little shells of slime, maybe some super snail facts might change your mind. I mean, they didn’t really make them any more palatable for me, but its nice to know there was some nutritional goodness with each chew.
Snails are low in calories and fat.
They are a good source of protein.
Depending on the snail species you consume, they can be full of magnesium and iron, and in some cases they have been recommended for people who have iron deficiencies – lucky things!
They can be a good source of niacin and selenium.
They contain vitamins A, E and B12, all of which are good for general health.
Fast Food
Snails aren’t a regularly consumed item in the UK. However, they are available if you really want to try them. I’d spotted them when I was doing a shop for snacks for New Years Eve. They were pre-prepared and simply needed cooking in the oven for a few minutes, meaning I had minimal contact with the critters.
I Shell Overcome This
The smell from the shell was a delight to inhale as they cooked. The garlic and herbs smelt inviting and familiar, making it slightly less daunting as I picked a middling sized shell.
Pincering it carefully between my finger and thumb, I inserted the cocktail stick, wiggled it around, and released the snail meat from the spiralled case.
A small squidgy herb covered morsel awaited consumption. It looked like a herb covered mushroom. I love mushrooms, so I tried to convince my brain that that was what I was about to put in my mouth.
I was still feeling brave as it made contact with my tongue. As soon as my teeth compressed the bitesized starter, my face contorted into a grimace. I could feel my eyes screwing up and my nose wrinkling. It took a lot more chewing than a delightful mushroom would have.
Whilst the garlic and herb flavour was delicious at first, it soon wore off, leaving a rubbery concoction in my mouth. I continued to chomp and the texture became gritty. I think it was just my snail as nobody else seemed to experience the same sensation. It certainly didn’t enhance any enjoyment.
After an excessive jaw workout, I swallowed, and quickly reached for the water.
What The Shell?
I even surprised myself when I went back for more. I didn’t really want another, but I thought I should see if a second snail was a bit smoother. Well, it didn’t have the same gritty consistency, but it was still a rubbery grind that took far too long to devour than the size warranted.
I swigged back the water.
It was over.
I had tried snails.
Escar-gone
This is not an experience I will be in a hurry to repeat. If snails became the only food available, then I’d have to learn to palate them and endure the arduous mastication. For now though, I shall continue to overlook them when they are on a menu, and they won’t be finding their way into my shopping basket.
Want To Try It Yourself?
You don’t have to leave the UK to sample snails. I’m not recommending that you wash and cook a snail that you find from anywhere outside, but I’m pretty sure that you’ll be able to find something on the internet that can guide you through the process of sourcing and preparing snails from scratch if that is the route you want to take. I am way too squeamish for that.
Some supermarkets stock pre-prepared escargot that you simply pop in the oven. You can order them from the internet too if you don’t have anywhere selling them near you.
If you don’t fancy having to look at them raw, then some restaurants serve them, so why not ‘treat’ yourself to trying them sometime.
Cost Of Experience
It will depend where you buy them from, or if you are having them in a restaurant.
I bought a pack of pre-prepared Francaise De Gastronomie 12 Escargots which cost £5.95 from Waitrose.
Recommendations
- Don’t use any snail you randomly find in the great outdoors. Follow guidance if you want to source your own.
- A cocktail stick is handy to get the snail meat out of the shell.
- Have a glass of water on standby to help wash it down if you don’t like the taste.
- Good luck!