Steamed snails with lemongrass have an enticing aroma.
Steamed snails with lemongrass, steamed snails with pepper, snails stuffed with meat… or creative and unique combinations of ingredients all evoke a craving. People immediately think of a bowl of spicy ginger fish sauce, the fragrant lemongrass, the aroma of lime leaves that awakens the taste buds, and the warm, spicy pepper…
The pot of snails was brought out steaming hot, and each snail was skillfully picked up and twisted with a grapefruit thorn to extract all the meat. The pleasure of eating snails is unique; you have to pick each one yourself, eating each piece as soon as you get it. If someone else served you a whole bowlful, it wouldn't taste as good.
For steamed dishes, cooks must carefully soak the snails in rice water to remove all the mud and dirt. Then, the broth in the clay pot, combined with lemongrass and pepper, releases a delicate sweetness, allowing diners to enjoy the crunchy snail meat while sipping the warm broth.
Grilled stuffed snails with pepper sauce.
Besides the simple steamed dishes, stuffed snails showcase the skill and meticulousness of women in the Mekong Delta. After boiling, the plump snails are deboned, their meat mixed with minced pork belly, wood ear mushrooms, black pepper, and shallots… to make a paste, then stuffed back into the snail shells.
Whether steamed or grilled over hot charcoal, this dish emits an irresistible aroma. And of course, a bowl of sweet and sour tamarind fish sauce or a thick mixture of chili, lime leaves, and salt is essential to fully awaken the taste buds.
Steamed snails served with young tamarind fish sauce.
Nowadays, freshwater snails are no longer confined to family meals but can be found in most popular restaurants. Ms. Do Ngoc Tram, owner of a riverside restaurant in Tinh Bien ward ( An Giang province), shared: "The restaurant serves seasonal dishes, but no matter how diverse the menu is, snails are always a must-have. Simply boiled with lemongrass, steamed with pepper, or stir-fried... they always win over customers."
Steamed snails with lotus root: a flavor that's both unique and familiar.
In My Hoa Hung commune (An Giang province), Ms. Le Thi Tuyet Nhung also takes advantage of her "homegrown" resources to innovate dishes. Ms. Nhung said that thanks to her lotus garden, snails thrive in the canals. "Recently, many people have been very fond of steamed snails with lotus root. It sounds unusual but familiar, the preparation is simple, but the taste is very delicate," Ms. Nhung said.
Simple meals of freshwater snails, the pleasant sound of the snails being shaken, the aroma of guava leaves, lemongrass, and lime leaves. In the tranquil setting of a thatched hut beside a lotus pond, enjoying a steaming platter of snails while listening to the hearty stories of the people of the Mekong Delta, this rustic freshwater snail dish becomes an unforgettable memory for visitors.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/thuong-nho-vi-oc-dong-que-nha-a472464.html
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