The Tasty Tale of the Peppered Snail
Peppered snail is a Nigerian appetizer enjoyed at parties, events and in homes.
Tasty and Spicy
Peppered snail is a delicacy that is tasty, spicy and peppery. It is served using kebab sticks or as a side dish with peppered sauce. Here are 5 steps for preparing one of Nigeria's most popular appetizers.
Step 1: Getting your snails right
Snails are commonly bred in Nigeria. There are a good number of snail farms all over the country where snails are bred for a number of months until they grow into different sizes. The size determines the price.
Live snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Pricey delicacy
The supply of snails is seasonal since they are bred during the wet season. For this reason, they attract much higher prices during the dry season (December to March) when supply often does not keep up with demand.
This is why snails are regarded as expensive delicacies.
Live snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Bought alive
Snails are usually sold and bought alive – not dead. They are only killed immediately when they are about to be prepared. It's not difficult to keep them since, being so slow, they can't run very far!
Step 2: Extracting the snails
The next phase in preparing peppered snail is to get the snails out of their shells and wash them thoroughly.
Breaking of snail shell (2019)The Centenary Project
Crack the shell!
To begin preparation, the shell has to be broken. This is usually done with a large butcher knife. The aim needs to be precise – the middle of the shell is targeted.
Breaking of snail shell (2019)The Centenary Project
What a crack!
The shell is cracked in the middle of the shell to create just enough opening to see the snail inside.
Removing snails from shells (2019)The Centenary Project
Pulled out with care
When the shell is totally split, the snail is pulled out of it very gently so as to keep the outer skin pristine.
Snails and snail shells (2019)The Centenary Project
All out
One by one, all the snails are pulled out of their shells and placed in a separate bowl. The cracked shells can then be disposed of.
Removing snail slime (2019)The Centenary Project
Alum time
Alum is used to wash the snails. Alum is a hydrated double sulphate salt of aluminium that is used to effectively take the slime off the snail. Some people prefer using lime to wash snails.
Washing snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Washing the snails
The entrails of the snail contain slime that are best left out; so, the snails are constantly cleaned with freshwater. The water is continuously poured until all the slime comes off.
Washed snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Washed and ready
When the snails are slime-free, they are ready to be cooked.
Step 3: Boiling and deep frying the snails
The third phase of preparing the snails includes very little water, seasoning cubes, onions, thyme and salt.
Peppered snail ingredients (2019)The Centenary Project
Slicing onions
Onions are sliced to prepare the snails for parboiling.
Peppered snail ingredients (2019)The Centenary Project
And a bit of thyme is set aside as well.
Snails in pot (2019)The Centenary Project
Adding the ingredients
The snails are cooked with the onions, thyme, seasoning and salt till soft. To make them crunchy, they are fried afterwards.
Parboiling snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Boiling the snails
The snails are cooked with onions and thyme.
Frying snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Frying the snails
After the snails have been cooked, they are fried in a pan. The sight and sound of this process is something to savour.
Frying snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Almost ready
The snails are fried until their white sections are golden brown and crunchy.
Fried snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Straight from the pan
Once the snails have been fried, they are put on a plate. They can be enjoyed this way or added to other dishes.
Step 4: Preparing the pepper sauce
After getting the snails out of their shells and boiling and frying them, the next step is to prepare the sauce and drop the snails in it.
Peppered snail ingredients (2019)The Centenary Project
Peppered sauce ingredients
A blended mixture of scotch bonnet, red bell peppers and...
...dry powdered pepper (and, if you like, some seasoning) are mixed and put in a pot.
Peppered stew and fried snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Fried snails and peppered sauce
The fried snails are then added to the peppered sauce frying in a pot.
Peppered snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Pepper mix
The pepper mix is fried in vegetable oil and cooked till ready. The snails are allowed to cook for a while, absorbing the flavours from the peppers.
Step 5: Peppered snails, all set to be enjoyed
Peppered snails are enjoyed in bars, lounges, parties, events and at home with a cold drink.
Peppered snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Garnished peppered snails
Peppered snails can also be served garnished with raw onions and tomatoes.
Peppered stew and fried snails (2019)The Centenary Project
Fried snails and sauce
Fried snails can be enjoyed with the peppered sauce by the side. The snails are dipped into the sauce and eaten.
Peppered snail on skewers (2019)The Centenary Project
Skewered peppered snails
Peppered snails are also enjoyed on skewers, kebab style.
Peppered snails, ofada rice & fried plantains 'dodo' (2019)The Centenary Project
A delicious meal with peppered snails
If desired, peppered snails can be paired with white rice and fried plantain.
Curator: Emem Akpabio
Research: Omotunde Omojola
Photographs: Ibukun Akinjobi
Text: Emem Akpabio
Text editing: Patrick Enaholo / Munachim Amah
Special thanks to:
Mary Ihama (chef)
@ Centenary Project
