Dish of Pasta with Snail Sauce
(click to enlarge)

Pasta with Apple Snail Sauce


California
Serves:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  		 4 pasta
**
30 min
Part		 Apple Snails are pests in Hawaii, Florida and most other warm wet parts of the world, particularly in rice paddies. Eating the little bassards can help keep them under control. The main problem with Apple Snails is their toughness.

4
3
2
2
5
1/3
12
a/r
tt
tt
oz
oz
cl
T
T
t
oz



Apple Snail meat (1)  
Shallot
Garlic
Parsley flat
Butter
Salt
Pasta
Olive Oil ExtV
Salt
Pepper
Prep
  1. IF using whole SNAILS, simmer or steam until they release from their shells. Clean them and rinse. Use only the rubbery foot part, the mealy stuff farther up in the shell doesn't taste very good.
    IF using frozen meat, thaw it, it's cooked. Otherwise, bring to a boil enough water to cover and add a dash of vinegar. Stir snails into boiling water. Bring it just up to a simmer, then simmer very slowly for 10 minutes. Drain.
  2. Chop Snail Meat very fine - its tough.
  3. Chop SHALLOT, GARLIC and PARSLEY fine. Mix.
Run
  1. At this point you can put your pasta in boiling salted water and start cooking it.
  2. Melt Butter in a pan and add Shallot Mix and Salt, fry gently stirring until shallots are translucent but not at all browned. Stir in chopped Snails for just a few seconds and turn off heat. Keep warm.
  3. Drain Pasta and return to the pot. Stir in just enough Olive Oil to coat (about 1/2 tablespoon), Season to taste with Salt and Pepper. Place pasta out into shallow bowls and spoon Snail Sauce over it.
NOTES:

  1. Apple Snails:

      You can buy these frozen in the shell or as frozen meat in Asian markets. If you can't go out and catch your own, frozen meat is much more convenient and economical than whole snails. For 4 ounces of foot meat you'll need about 2-1/2 pounds of whole snails (10% yield). For frozen meat, you need 6 ounces to yield 4 ounces thawed and drained (67% yield). Apple snails can be caught wild in Florida and Hawaii (go for the big varieties). They must be cooked thoroughly because they may harbor parasites that can infect humans. For details see our Apple Snail page.
  2. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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