How to Make Delicious and Crispy Snail Salad, Easy to Make at Home

How to prepare Snail Salad

• 1

  Prepare and boil the snails

  Buy the snails and wash them thoroughly, using a brush to scrub the outer surface to remove dirt and grime. Soak the snails in diluted saltwater for 10 – 15 minutes, then take them out and rinse them with cold water 2 – 3 times, and let them drain.

  Place a pot of water on the stove and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Boil until the water is fully boiling.

  While waiting for the water to boil, crush 3 stalks of lemongrass and 2 hot peppers, then add them to the pot to help the snails not have a fishy smell after boiling, making them more fragrant.

  When the water has boiled, add the snails, increase the heat, and cook for about 5 – 7 minutes until the snails are cooked.

  Tip:

  • In addition to using diluted saltwater to soak and clean the snails, you can also soak the snails in rice water for the same amount of time to help them release dirt and impurities.
  • Another very effective way to clean and eliminate the fishy smell from the snails is to soak them in water containing a little chopped red chili.

  

  
• 2

  Prepare the other ingredients

  Peel the papaya and carrot, wash them thoroughly, and then shred them into thin strips, placing everything into a large bowl.

  Wash the Vietnamese coriander, let it drain, and pick the leaves, cutting them into small pieces. Wash the cilantro and cut it into sections.

  The remaining lemongrass should have the outer tough layers removed, washed thoroughly, and sliced thinly.

  Tip: To keep the papaya and carrot crunchy and prevent them from releasing too much water when mixed, peel them very thinly.

  

  

  

  
• 3

  Make the salad dressing and dipping sauce

  Place a pot of water on the stove, add 2 chili peppers, and boil on high heat for about 3 – 5 minutes.

  In a bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of lime juice, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 6 tablespoons of sugar until the ingredients are well combined.

  When the chili in the pot is cooked, remove it. Cut off the stem and seeds, then chop finely. Next, put the chili and the seasoning mixture into a mortar and grind until smooth.

  Pour all the blended salad dressing into a bowl.

  Then, add 3 tablespoons of the salad dressing into another bowl, add 2 teaspoons of fish sauce, and 1.5 tablespoons of water, then stir well to make the dipping sauce.

  Tip: Depending on your family’s taste, you can adjust the seasonings to your liking.

  

  

  

  
• 4

  Shell and slice the snail

  After boiling the snails until cooked, take them out and put them in a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes to maintain their crunchiness.

  Use a fork to remove the snail meat from the shell, you can discard the tail (depending on your preference) then slice thinly and place on a plate.

  

  

  

  
• 5

  Mix the salad

  Add all the herbs including cilantro and Vietnamese coriander into the bowl containing shredded carrot and papaya. Add 1/2 of the salad dressing and mix well so that the vegetables soak up the seasoning.

  Mix the sliced snail with the remaining 1/2 of the dressing. Then, add another teaspoon of fried shallots and mix well, letting it sit for about 5 minutes for the snails to absorb the flavor.

  In the bowl with the vegetables, add another teaspoon of fried shallots and mix well. Next, sprinkle peanuts and lemongrass on top and mix one more time.

  Finally, transfer the mixed salad to a plate, sprinkle fried shallots and arrange the snails on top. Add a bit of sesame for a nice appearance, and you can enjoy it right away.

  Tip: During the mixing of the ingredients with the dressing, to ensure they blend well and soak into each other, continuously mix while gently squeezing.

  

  

  

  
• 6

  Final Product

  The snail salad after completion has a very eye-catching color and a fragrant aroma from fried shallots and sesame. The snail meat, along with crispy, sweet papaya and carrot, blends perfectly with a hint of spiciness from chili and the sharpness of Vietnamese mint, making it extremely delicious.

  Enjoy it with shrimp crackers, and dipping the snail meat in a bit of sauce makes it even tastier. Show off your cooking skills and make it right away!