What are Jumping Snails? How much is 1kg? Prepare and prepare delicious dishes
This article has provided you with information about jumping snails, the price of jumping snails per kilogram, and a guide on how to prepare and cook delicious dishes with jumping snails. We hope you have gained valuable knowledge, and don’t forget to follow KINGFISH for more information on various seafood options.
I/ What are Jumping Snails?
1. Identification of Jumping Snails
Jumping snails, also known as “dance snails,” are named for their unique method of movement. Unlike other snails, they don’t crawl; instead, they often propel themselves by jumping, similar to a dance.
Jumping snails are commonly found in warm tropical seas, making them prevalent in regions like Phu Quoc, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam. One distinctive feature is their hard mouth edge, which they use like a tool to jump from one spot to another.
2. Nutritional Value of Jumping Snails
Jumping snail meat is rich in saturated fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals like potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and selenium. Most importantly, they contain omega-3 fatty acids, providing various health benefits, including supporting weight management, improving cardiovascular health, boosting the immune system, and enhancing overall well-being.
II/ Common Types of Jumping Snails
1. Red Jumping Snails
Red jumping snails have a reddish outer shell, with the foot part being slightly lighter than other sections of the shell. The shell of red jumping snails is also thinner compared to white jumping snails. The meat of red jumping snails is known for its firm, crispy, and thicker texture, offering a distinctive sweet flavor.
2. White Jumping Snails
White jumping snails have a translucent white outer shell, with a darker edge on one side and a thinner outer layer. Although the meat quantity is less compared to red jumping snails, white jumping snail meat is richer in fats. It has a clear, distinct taste of white snail meat.
III/ How Much Do Jumping Snails Cost per Kilogram?
The price of jumping snails per kilogram varies throughout the year. The jumping snail season typically runs from March to August in the lunar calendar when the weather is warm and the sea is calm, creating favorable conditions for their growth and reproduction. During this period, the price of jumping snails is usually at its lowest, ranging from 120,000 to 150,000 Vietnamese Dong per kilogram (based on price updates as of February 2022).
IV/ How to Prepare Jumping Snails
The preparation of jumping snails starts with soaking them in saltwater with chili for 1-2 hours to clean out sand and debris. Then, rinse them thoroughly with cold water and drain them.
Next, prepare lemongrass and ginger by crushing the lemongrass and cutting the ginger into slices, arranging them at the bottom of a pot. Place the jumping snails on top of the lemongrass and ginger, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and two chilies. The pot is then placed on the stove, and the snails are boiled for about 10 minutes until they are cooked.
After the snails are cooked, turn off the stove and remove the snails from the pot and arrange them on a plate.
V/ Delicious Dishes from Jumping Snails
1. Jumping Snails with Lemongrass and Chili
Ingredients for Jumping Snails with Lemongrass and Chili:
• 1 kg of Jumping Snails
• 3 stalks of Lemongrass
• 3 chilies
• A pinch of salt/sugar
Cooking steps for Jumping Snails with Lemongrass and Chili:
Step 1: Prepare the snails
To prepare the dish, start by cleaning the snails you bought. Rinse the snails thoroughly, then soak them in diluted saltwater for about 4 – 5 hours. Soaking helps the snails remove dirt and sand. After soaking, remove the snails and rinse them 2 – 3 more times with water until they are clean, then drain them.
Step 2: Prepare the other ingredients
Next, clean the lemongrass and cut it into 2 or 3 sections, and thinly slice the ginger.
Step 3: Sauté the snails
After preparing the ingredients, put the snails in a pot along with the lemongrass and chilies you’ve prepared. Season the snails with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and add 2 chilies. Bring to a boil and cook the snails for about 10 minutes until they are done.
Step 4: Prepare the dipping sauce
In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 4 teaspoons of tamarind juice, 1 teaspoon of minced ginger, 1 teaspoon of minced chili, and 1 teaspoon of sliced lemongrass.
Finally, you’ll have the dish of Jumping Snails with Lemongrass and Chili, with sweet, crispy, and flavorful snail meat, complemented by the aromatic lemongrass. You can also serve it with a side of green chili salt for added flavor.
2. Steamed Jumping Snails with Lemongrass
Ingredients for Steamed Jumping Snails with Lemongrass:
• 1 kg of Jumping Snails
• 200g of Lemongrass
• 100g of Bird’s Eye Chilies
• 2 tablespoons of Fish Sauce
• 4 teaspoons of Tamarind Juice
• 1 teaspoon of minced Ginger
• 1 teaspoon of minced Chili
• 1 teaspoon of sliced Lemongrass
• Common spices
To prepare Steamed Jumping Snails with Lemongrass, follow these steps:
Step 1: Prepare the snails
• First, clean the snails by rinsing them thoroughly.
• Soak the snails in rice wash water for 1 – 2 hours to remove impurities.
• If you don’t have rice wash water, you can soak the snails in saltwater for about 3 hours and change the water 3 to 4 times during the soaking period.
Step 2: Prepare the other ingredients
• Clean and cut the lemongrass into 2 or 3 sections.
• Rinse the chilies.
Step 3: Cook the sauce
• Place a pot on the stove and pour about 1 liter of water into it, then boil the lemongrass and chilies in the water for about 3 minutes.
• Next, add 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of chicken powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt to the pot.
Step 4: Steam the snails
• Place the snails in the pot and add about 1 liter of water.
• Steam the snails for about 10 minutes, then remove them to drain.
Step 5: Make the dipping sauce
In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 4 teaspoons of tamarind juice, 5 teaspoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of minced ginger, 1 teaspoon of minced chili, and 1 teaspoon of sliced lemongrass.
Finally, you’ll have Steamed Jumping Snails with Lemongrass, with snail meat that’s sweet and slightly spicy, complemented by the flavorful dipping sauce. This is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that the whole family can enjoy.
3. Butter Garlic Sautéed Jumping Snails
Ingredients for Butter Garlic Sautéed Jumping Snails:
• 1 kg of Jumping Snails
• 2 stalks of Lemongrass
• 1 piece of Ginger
• 20g of Bird’s Eye Chilies
• 20g of Butter
• 5 chilies
• 1 teaspoon of Chili Paste
• 1 teaspoon of minced Chili
• 2 tablespoons of minced Garlic
• 1 teaspoon of Oyster Sauce
• 3 tablespoons of Cooking Oil
• Common spices
Cooking steps:
Step 1: Prepare the snails
Start by cleaning the snails you bought. Soak the snails in diluted saltwater with chili for 1 – 2 hours. This helps the snails remove sand and dirt. After soaking, remove the snails and rinse them 2 – 3 more times with water, then let them drain naturally.
Step 2: Prepare other ingredients
Next, prepare a pot and use lemongrass to crush, cut into chunks, and slice ginger. Place the lemongrass and ginger at the bottom of the pot, then place the jumping snails on top. Season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and add 2 chilies. Boil the snails for about 10 minutes until they are cooked.
Step 3: Prepare the sauce
The next step is to prepare the sauce. In a cup, mix 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 4 teaspoons of tamarind juice, 5 teaspoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of minced ginger, 1 teaspoon of minced chili, and 1 teaspoon of minced lemongrass. Stir until the seasonings dissolve completely.
Step 4: Sauté the jumping snails
Place a pan on the stove, heat it up, and add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil. Sauté the minced garlic in the oil until the garlic turns golden and fragrant. Next, add the boiled jumping snails to the pan and toss them well. Then, pour the sauce from the cup into the pan and continue to toss for another 2 minutes to let the snails absorb the flavors.
Finally, add 20g of butter and toss to melt the butter and evenly coat the snails with the sauce. Turn off the heat and transfer the sautéed jumping snails to a serving dish.
Step 5: Enjoy your meal
The butter garlic sautéed jumping snails are aromatic with the scent of garlic and butter, and the snail meat is crispy, savory, sweet, and a bit spicy. You can add green chili salt for an extra kick.
VI/ How to Store Jumping Snails Longer
To store snails in the refrigerator, you can follow these steps:
• Parboil the snails: Begin by parboiling the snails by boiling them in water for a few minutes. Then, let them cool naturally.
• Sort the snails: Remove any snails that are dead or overcooked to avoid affecting the rest.
• Packaging and storage: After the snails have cooled, you can place them in ziplock bags or a well-sealed food container. If using ziplock bags, make sure to remove all the air before sealing the bag. Store the packaged snails in the cool compartment of the refrigerator. The cool compartment keeps the temperature low and stable, helping to preserve the snails better. Snails can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. During this time, it’s advisable to consume them to ensure freshness and food safety.
VII/ Conclusion
With this article, KINGFISH hopes that you have gained information about the price of jumping snails and the delicious dishes that can be prepared with them. Don’t forget to continue following KINGFISH for more useful information on cuisine and cooking!