Go to the islet to eat snail salad with banana blossom.

The islands (Cù Lao Dung and An Thạnh communes, Can Tho City) are not only a destination with many unique experiences, but they are also famous for their specialty snails. Catching snails under the forest canopy is both a unique experience for tourists and provides ingredients for many delicious dishes.

Snail salad with banana blossom. Photo: KIỀU MAI

Mud snails have a dark brown shell interspersed with beautiful white stripes and usually live in coastal mudflats or mangrove forests. Because of this characteristic, mud snails are usually only found in the wild or raised in natural environments. In Can Tho, Cu Lao Dung and An Thanh are famous areas with livelihood models under the forest canopy - including households raising mud snails for economic purposes, combined with tourism. Because they grow in a natural environment, mud snails are considered a clean ingredient for many delicious dishes to serve guests, and the island is famous for its mud snail salad.

Preparing periwinkle snails is similar to preparing other types of snails; they need to be soaked in rice water with chili peppers for a few hours or overnight. Then, the snails are deboned, boiled with a little lemongrass and ginger. Once cooked, simply extract the meat, discarding the tails. An interesting feature of periwinkle snail meat is that when cooked, it turns a beautiful turquoise color.

In the Mekong Delta, the quickest way to make snail salad is to use banana blossoms – which are often readily available in home gardens. Simply pick a banana blossom, shred it, and mix it with the salad for a quick and flavorful dish to serve guests. Adding some mint and roasted peanuts to the snail salad with banana blossoms makes for a truly delicious and well-rounded dish. The naturally sourced snails retain their sweetness and crispness, while the slightly astringent taste of the banana blossom, the salty, sour, and spicy flavor of the garlic and chili fish sauce, the fragrant roasted peanuts, and the aroma of the herbs create a dish that diners will never tire of.

Snail salad is not only a refreshing dish for hot weather but also offers many nutritional benefits. According to medical science, snails are a rich source of protein, minerals, and vitamins, helping to improve bone and joint health and are suitable for diets that control blood lipids. Especially when prepared using steaming or boiling methods, their nutritional value is preserved.

Visiting the islet to collect snails under the forest canopy and enjoy delicious dishes made from this nutritious local specialty will be a memorable experience for tourists when they come to Can Tho .

MINH NHIEN

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/ve-cu-lao-an-goi-oc-len-bap-chuoi-a201169.html