Snail and Onion Stew Anyone?
By katerina
@thea09 (18305)
Greece
September 11, 2009 6:41am CST
We have many natural resources on our doorstep, the fish and fruit are freely given, the herbs I use grow wild, but there are snails out there just waiting to add a bit of free protein to the diet.
I have a Greek recipe for snail and onion stew, but the off putting part is the first instruction, to put the snails in a bowl of water of water overnight and cover it with a plate to stop them crawling away. The thought of waking the next day to a kitchen full of wandering snails I'm not sure about.
So what could you choose from your local area to cook or eat which is just there for free, and any things you just wouldn't consider for any reason?
6 people like this
17 responses
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
11 Sep 09
There are no snails in the village I grew up in. There is one thing there that might be exploited better, but nobody does it, because we are not used to eating such things: frogs. I think if somebody really puts their mind up to it, the frogs hind-legs will be a very useful plate to add on the table. However, I don't think that's going to happen any time soon.
What we do get for free and everybody uses are some plants.
One would be the mushrooms, which, of course, it's not a plant, but since it doesn't move, I placed it alongside plants. When I was a kid I used to get up really early and go foraging for mushrooms with an older neighbour. There are two types of mushrooms growing there during the spring and the fall, but only one of them is edible, while the other is poisonous. I had no idea on how to separate them, but my neighbour did. So we were leaving home around 6.30 AM in search of the "dung mushroom", as it is called. We usually came home around 10 AM with enough mushrooms to feed both our families for that day. 
I preferred the fried mushrooms, but the mushroom stew is also very good.
The other two plants come out early during the spring, and they are highly appreciated because they bring back the vitamins and iron to the menu, after the winter, when most of the food is based on pork meat.
The first is the plant called in English "Patience Dock", "monk's rhubarb" or "garden patience" (Rumex patientia), and it grows all year long, but it's only cooked early in the spring when it's still young. It's cooked preferably with rice or in a soup (the Romanian are crazy about their soup).
The other plant, also used only when very young and juicy, early in the spring, is the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), which is usually eaten boiled, alongside a traditional food made out of corn flower (basically, you make a corn flower porridge, only harder).
Needless to say I hate both of these plants, putting them on the same preference shelf as most of the herbs I was referring to in a previous discussion.
I preferred the fried mushrooms, but the mushroom stew is also very good.
The other two plants come out early during the spring, and they are highly appreciated because they bring back the vitamins and iron to the menu, after the winter, when most of the food is based on pork meat.
The first is the plant called in English "Patience Dock", "monk's rhubarb" or "garden patience" (Rumex patientia), and it grows all year long, but it's only cooked early in the spring when it's still young. It's cooked preferably with rice or in a soup (the Romanian are crazy about their soup).
The other plant, also used only when very young and juicy, early in the spring, is the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), which is usually eaten boiled, alongside a traditional food made out of corn flower (basically, you make a corn flower porridge, only harder).
Needless to say I hate both of these plants, putting them on the same preference shelf as most of the herbs I was referring to in a previous discussion. 
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
11 Sep 09
No, I am not a big fan of soup either 
. But the reason I don't like the soup is that ALL types of soup traditionally include the evil herbs... I actually have a pact with my mother: as these herbs are added right before the soup is done, I save some of the soup before she adds the herbs, and I eat it as I please. That way, or she makes the soup without the herbs (mainly parsley) and if anyone else wants them, they can add some in the plates.
I don't travel that much - I may travel for long periods of time, but I go to the same place over and over again... that's where my object of activity is... When I travel, I usually eat in restaurants, and I get to choose what I want - usually things with no herbs, and rarely soup (although they have some beans soup with some sort of bacon that is to die for when they serve it with raw red onions 
). As you can see even from the picture above, the herb mania is a national one - above the stinging nettle and cornflower porridge, you can see a leaf...
Even if I don't like some of the herbs, I do enjoy most of the food, that's one of the reasons I weigh almost 95 kg... And, by the way, that cornflower porridge... if you eat it warm mixed with butter, grilled cheese and a fried egg (not too fried so that the yolk is still liquid), it tastes very, very good!
. But the reason I don't like the soup is that ALL types of soup traditionally include the evil herbs... I actually have a pact with my mother: as these herbs are added right before the soup is done, I save some of the soup before she adds the herbs, and I eat it as I please. That way, or she makes the soup without the herbs (mainly parsley) and if anyone else wants them, they can add some in the plates.
I don't travel that much - I may travel for long periods of time, but I go to the same place over and over again... that's where my object of activity is... When I travel, I usually eat in restaurants, and I get to choose what I want - usually things with no herbs, and rarely soup (although they have some beans soup with some sort of bacon that is to die for when they serve it with raw red onions ). As you can see even from the picture above, the herb mania is a national one - above the stinging nettle and cornflower porridge, you can see a leaf...
Even if I don't like some of the herbs, I do enjoy most of the food, that's one of the reasons I weigh almost 95 kg... And, by the way, that cornflower porridge... if you eat it warm mixed with butter, grilled cheese and a fried egg (not too fried so that the yolk is still liquid), it tastes very, very good!1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
12 Sep 09
Had a bit of a dilemna there when I made the photo bigger, it said rate image positive and I found that rather hard given what I was looking at in close up.
I'm so glad you're not hungry from having to avoid all these herbs and a sensible solution has been worked out. I just knew you wouldn't be that keen on soup. There are lots of bean soups in Greece too but they don't have the excitement of added bacon.
That boiled nettle looked rather like this very bitter thing we have here called xorta, which is just wild greens. Every Greek goes crazy for them but I find them a soggy mess of over boiled green sludge, rather like the image in your picture. How they can boil something for over an hour (can you imagine the smell) and then still have it taste so bitter, is beyond me. My koubara was making tea out of the stuff last winter and even whilst I'm normally polite I could not get more than one mouthful down.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
11 Sep 09
Hi stvasile you had me confused for a moment there with your description of the two free plants as I was certain you wouldn't actually be happy eating them. Do you actually get to enjoy any food as your Mama seems to put all these herbs and plants you loathe so much into all her cooking. I have to say though that boiled nettle with cornflour porridge could rate as one of the most disgusting offerings I've ever heard of. I know that you travel so do you get to experience food other than these local herb infested offerings or is that mainly the Romanaian way all through the country?
Now frogs legs are a delicacy in France but not something we have here in this area at all, though there is a Greek word for a plate of frogs legs so maybe they have them on one of the islands. We are totally deprived of any wild mushrooms which I find incredible so you are lucky to have something there which you do enjoy.
Now tell me Stvasile, are you crazy about the soup too, I rather imagine not.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
11 Sep 09
Yassou Niece, missed u yesterday. I'm sorry but snails would not be on my list if they were available, lol. If i could still go fishung i'd love that. Fish is one of my faves. We don't have anything available right at our doorstep like u do. We do have some fruits right now but i'm sure not anything like u do.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
11 Sep 09
Yassou Aunty, missed you too, I was in town most of the day, followed by another long session in the chair in the evening.
.
So not a snail fan Aunty, I must confess to only eating them once but that was in Paris where everyone eats them in garlic butter with special little snail cutlery.
So you used to fish yourself? I love it when I go out on the fishing boats but I'm more along for the experience than the actual fishing, I was amazed at how unsmelly the whole business is.
So what sort of fishing did you used to get up to Aunty?
.
So not a snail fan Aunty, I must confess to only eating them once but that was in Paris where everyone eats them in garlic butter with special little snail cutlery.
So you used to fish yourself? I love it when I go out on the fishing boats but I'm more along for the experience than the actual fishing, I was amazed at how unsmelly the whole business is.
So what sort of fishing did you used to get up to Aunty?2 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
12 Sep 09
I have never tried them, don't know if i would or not, lol.
i love to fish but of course like i said it's been a long time. i liked to fish for catfish, brim & crappie, like to eat them to.
sorry u had to spend all that time in the drntist chair. I know that wasn't a fun time. i'll be glad when u get through w/this ordeal & know u will be to. hope your weekend goes good. hugs, aunty.Yassou.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
12 Sep 09
Yassou Aunty, thanks for the hugs, appreciated. I did actually think of you telling me to be brave whilst in the chair. The second time I wimpered not once, the dentists wife worked on me and was the finest dentist ever so I don't need to be frightened any more. Very gentle, though she did lie to me about how many times she was going to do the wax impression bit which terrifies me as I always think all the rest of my teeth will come out when it's removed. They didn't. Anyway not going anywhere public until my crown is ready at some point next week
I've never seen or tasted any of the fish you used to catch, different fish for different seas I think. The most common one here translates as grey striped mullet, there's tuna, lobster and sardines a plenty and others which I don't know the English words for. I'd love to try a catfish once though, I've seen many an interesting recipe for them
Have a lovely weekend Aunty.
I've never seen or tasted any of the fish you used to catch, different fish for different seas I think. The most common one here translates as grey striped mullet, there's tuna, lobster and sardines a plenty and others which I don't know the English words for. I'd love to try a catfish once though, I've seen many an interesting recipe for them
Have a lovely weekend Aunty.1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
11 Sep 09
hi thea I wish I could get over my squeamishness but snails'
just dont do it for me. I love mussels and crab and lobster'tho0ugh and the fresh fish the dory men pull in from off the Pacific'
coast down at NewPort bay. they are so good, just freshly caught, and you go home and cook them and they taste so much better than those in the supermarket that are days old. they are not free but so much much cheaper than in our markets, and mussels and crab we can get
free but there are times when we are warned not to use the mussels as they have been contaminated by red tides. I have had octopus given me and I would not eatit ,yet I bought calamari and it was delicious so next time I get free calamari I will cook it and eat it. lol lol.
2 people like this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
11 Sep 09
Hi Hatley, no snails for you then but I have to say there isn't a lot of difference between a snail and a mussle. But much more fun to chat about fish anyway. Now I'm of the won't prepare either octopus or squid type but will eat it and I have to say octupus is far tastier than squid, and squid can have a tendency to be rubbery. But octupus grilled to perfection is wonderful. There's actually a picture on my profile of octupus drying on a clothes line in the sun, it is a speciality of a small town called Gythio and every taverna has them hanging out to dry in the sun. I'm very lucky to get free fish and lobster from the local fishermen as they are incredibly expensive here which is ridiculous when we are next to the sea. We don't get any mussels here at all and crab is very rare. When I make a mess of gutting fish which I often do I make a lovely fish soup out of it.
@Humbug25 (12540)
•
14 Sep 09
Hi ya thea09
In my experience recipe using snails are not normally the garden variety but are special escargots!! Anyway if I were you, if it is ok to use these free roaming snails is to put them outside somewhere cool but surly if they have a plate on the bowl they are not going to get out? I can't say that there is anything free around in my local are though I did find a frog in the garden yesterday. Anyone for frog's legs? lol 
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
14 Sep 09
Hi Humbug, they do indeed use free roaming snails but it's not as if they've been wandering down motorways or anything like that, they are found on olive strewn hillsides muching on herbs. However I don't intend to cook these myself, even if they are free, as it's an awful lot of preparation for what's actually inside the shell but I wouldn't be averse to picking some and taking them along to my koubara as a small gift.
Frog's legs, another French delicacy
1 person likes this
@desteny114 (886)
• United States
12 Sep 09
There are times that I would try some thing different but I have not tried any snail meals and I am not so sure I would try it well it depends how it would look. There are many things that we can use to make our self a plate of for free like fresh fish and wild birds and many others and there are even some that do not sound good like cockroaches and crickets and other insects. But I prefer home grown veggies and on some occasions fresh fish from a near by river or lake.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
12 Sep 09
Hi desteny, snails cooking in the pot look as harmless as mushrooms actually, so not physically off putting. The only time I did eat them they were still in the shells so when extracted are tiny little things. Of the things you mention to eat there is no way ever, even if starving in a famine, that I could force myself to eat cockroaches but I've heard that crickets are quite tasty and packed with protein. Much better all round probably to stick with your home grown veggies and fish. I've not had any river fish for years, and think that was only salmon and trout, do you get other kinds as well where you are?
@desteny114 (886)
• United States
14 Sep 09
I am sorry but I don’t know much about the types of fish there might be hear in Arizona. All I know is that they are good especially fresh out from the water.
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
11 Sep 09
Dear Thea,
Do you mean the garden snails that crawling around in our garden?
I cannot imagine myself eating it. My son been asking me what type
of snail does the French eat? Some movies did show the French
Restaurant serve snail platter...
I heard people eat frogs and crickets in Thailand and China.
It seems deep fried crickets is very tasty and crispy!
I live in a small estate in a rural area. Most
of the people stay there are rubber tapper and
they are poor. When you are poor, you will be creative
with your food too, especially end of the month before
the next pay come in. Who will be the victim? The animals
better hide themself by end month or else they will end
up being serve on the dinner table... 
My fifth brother have many Indian friends who live in
the estate. During weekend they will go hunting with
their dogs. They will come back with 'biawak' (monitor lizard)
Sometimes they came back with monkeys, rabbit, tortoise, etc.
At time they discovered huge snake, they will killed it and
be divided among all the families there. Once all this exotic
animals cooked with plenty of curry powder, curry leaves..
it is SOOO DELICIOUS, you will want more, forgetting what
is it! So, I have personally eaten 'bayawak', monkeys, tortoise,
turtle, rabbit, deer, birds, pigeons, and many more BUT NOT ANYMORE!
I have stop eating all this meat except quail and deer which at times
I did savour some.
My fifth brother have many Indian friends who live in
the estate. During weekend they will go hunting with
their dogs. They will come back with 'biawak' (monitor lizard)
Sometimes they came back with monkeys, rabbit, tortoise, etc.
At time they discovered huge snake, they will killed it and
be divided among all the families there. Once all this exotic
animals cooked with plenty of curry powder, curry leaves..
it is SOOO DELICIOUS, you will want more, forgetting what
is it! So, I have personally eaten 'bayawak', monkeys, tortoise,
turtle, rabbit, deer, birds, pigeons, and many more BUT NOT ANYMORE!
I have stop eating all this meat except quail and deer which at times
I did savour some. 2 people like this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
11 Sep 09
Iriene, do I hear you right, you couldn't imagine eating a snail but you've tried monkey and tortoise. I thought eating monkey was meant to be dangerous, bit too closely related to us or something with possibly unknown diseases. And I could never eat a tortoise, they are one of the few wild things here which aren't eaten at all, they are considered almost endangered. I have had curried quail and it was wonderful, and I wouldn't be averse to trying most things curried as I'm a huge fan of curry. But I would draw the line at monkey and tortoise and I don't eat venison.
Your son is right about eating snails in Paris but they are just normal snails but they are served as an appetiser on a platter with individual spaces for each snail, with the garlic butter in the middle. Frogs legs are another French delicacy but those I haven't tried.
Your son is right about eating snails in Paris but they are just normal snails but they are served as an appetiser on a platter with individual spaces for each snail, with the garlic butter in the middle. Frogs legs are another French delicacy but those I haven't tried.1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
11 Sep 09
Dear Thea,
I would not eat monkeys and turtle / tortoise now.
They are endangered animals...I am aware of it.
I ate those exotic food when I was just 5-6 years
young and do not even go to kindergarten. We eat
what are serve on the dinner table...
I use to see this snail crawling in the garden and
its slimy nature puts me off. But if
I am in a restaurant in Paris, and are encourage to
try, I might try one....LOL
Thanks and take care!
I use to see this snail crawling in the garden and
its slimy nature puts me off. But if
I am in a restaurant in Paris, and are encourage to
try, I might try one....LOL
Thanks and take care!2 people like this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
11 Sep 09
Dear Thea,
I would like to add one more item :~
In certain Chinese Restaurant, they serve turtle, tortoise and
certain species of frog meat. They do not term them as padi field
frog, they call it padi field 'chicken'. So those who are naif, might
order this chicken and eat. They stir fry it with black pepper, quite
tasty. I would avoid ordering it, BUT if it is serve, I might try a
piece or two. So for those padi field farmer, this will be good
supplies of food for their meals and it can be sold to restaurant
with a very good price!
You are so lucky to have fresh fish and fruits for free :)
Cheers!
In certain Chinese Restaurant, they serve turtle, tortoise and
certain species of frog meat. They do not term them as padi field
frog, they call it padi field 'chicken'. So those who are naif, might
order this chicken and eat. They stir fry it with black pepper, quite
tasty. I would avoid ordering it, BUT if it is serve, I might try a
piece or two. So for those padi field farmer, this will be good
supplies of food for their meals and it can be sold to restaurant
with a very good price!
You are so lucky to have fresh fish and fruits for free :)
Cheers!2 people like this
@AmbiePam (93762)
• United States
12 Sep 09
It is so odd to come across this right after watching a show where the meal was based on snails. Have you ever seen the reality show Top Chef? They get the best chefs in the world to be judges of other up and coming chefs. Anyway, last night one of the contestant challenges was to base a dish around snails. A couple of the chef contestants had never made anything with snails. But the winning dish was the chef who made snails with bacon jam. Bacon jam! I have no idea what that would taste like, but frankly it would scare me. Is this a dish you have heard of that would go with snails?
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
12 Sep 09
Hi AmbiePam, I saw your escargot eating experience above and good for you for trying them. I also tried escargot in garlic butter in Paris as you just have to really if in Paris. They were fine but I left the last one as suddenly thought about what I was eating
A snail based meal on TV, these top chefs are into all those things and I think it's a cunning plan to introduce really cheap food into fancy restaurants at exorbitant prices, I do watch Gordon Ramsey courtesy of youtube and he's always extolling the virtues of pigeon and eel and other such cheap things which the starving masses have been eating for years, in an effort to glamorise them for profit. Now when I first read bacon jam, I was thinking bacon and jam, yuckbut presumably it is a savoury jam like a relish. Never heard of it but I'd imagine bacon going quite well, they wrap it around prawns here and that works well. I'm sure to be force fed someones home made snail offerings at some point soon having avoided it thus far, but they sound like just too much work to prepare them myself.
A snail based meal on TV, these top chefs are into all those things and I think it's a cunning plan to introduce really cheap food into fancy restaurants at exorbitant prices, I do watch Gordon Ramsey courtesy of youtube and he's always extolling the virtues of pigeon and eel and other such cheap things which the starving masses have been eating for years, in an effort to glamorise them for profit. Now when I first read bacon jam, I was thinking bacon and jam, yuckbut presumably it is a savoury jam like a relish. Never heard of it but I'd imagine bacon going quite well, they wrap it around prawns here and that works well. I'm sure to be force fed someones home made snail offerings at some point soon having avoided it thus far, but they sound like just too much work to prepare them myself.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
12 Sep 09
River snails are common food here but not garden snails. I have cooked and eaten snails in the past but have not eaten it for a long time. Snails are no difference from clams and other shellfish. The taste is not much difference. River snails are no longer free they have commercial value now and they are sold in the market like fish and meat.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
12 Sep 09
Hi zandi, I have never actually heard of river snails before, I didn't realise there were two differnt types of snils, presumably they are still shell creatures but not found in Europe. I've never seen a market stall of our type of snails as they do take quite a bit of time to collect. I did actually describe them to someone as being rather like mussels when cooked
So the ways I have come across preparing snails if of course the French way of serving them still in their shells with garlic butter, and the way I described in my intro. I'm very curious to know how one would serve a river snail even though I note they are no longer part of your food choice.
So the ways I have come across preparing snails if of course the French way of serving them still in their shells with garlic butter, and the way I described in my intro. I'm very curious to know how one would serve a river snail even though I note they are no longer part of your food choice.
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
17 Sep 09
Living on an Island, surrounded by the Ocean, we have an abundance of seafood; Oysters, Clams, Crabs, mussels, limpets and for fish, salmon, cod (many varieties) and if your boat is large enough to go off-shore, quite a ways, prawns & swimmer scallops! Land based; wild strawberries, salmon berries, blackberries, morel & quite a selection of other mushrooms & fungii! The Island is also over-run with indigenous deer, a staple of the natives. Stinging nettles & Miner's lettuce, to be eaten earlier in the year. One could survive quite easily on the bounties, here!
I do love escargot....but not so sure I would like to see it sliding across my kitchen floor & the slimely trail behind it!
We have a plethora of SLUGS in the spring/early summer during our rainy season, and they are something I would NOT consider cooking/eating! Yuck! They fit into the same category as the nasty little furry varmints that inhabit our environment..rats & mice! Have a great one...& Cheers!
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
17 Sep 09
Hello pergammano, yucky slugs, I'm sure they eat them somewhere. Someone should promote Greece as a slug free zone as I have never seen one here thank goodness.
Now you are in a wonderful sounding place as all that lovely shellfish which I adore. Although on the sea here we don't have such marvellous things as scallops and prawns, or oysters, mussels or clams. We do have lobster and one fisherman who catches it and he always saves some for me as a gift. All the fishermen know of my pediliction for crab but have only managed to catch one between them and it was a very large ugly looking specimen curiously lacking in much meat. So it's mainly fish here which is very good but I prefer someone else to prepare it for me as not a natural at gutting despite having a freezer full of free fish. I usually turn it into fish soup when I've made a mess of the gutting process.
I find it quite unbelievable that we have no wild mushrooms so I envy you there and you leave me mystified as to what a salmon berry is. Have a lovely day.
@UK_Shree (3603)
•
11 Sep 09
Oh dear, I do have to say I am not keen on the idea of snail and onion stew! In fact any recipe in which I have to cook snails is one I would avoid! I do like growing herbs in the garden and there is something very pleasing about eating home-grown veg, but I'd probably prefer not to eat anything that moves about leaving slime trails behind it!
2 people like this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
11 Sep 09
Hi UK Shree, at least they aren't slugs. That's one delight you have and we don't. I have eaten snails in Paris but really consider that the only place to eat them, except in desperation, and have so far managed to avoid any offerings of snail stew, probably as it takes so long to find enough to fill a pot it isn't offered round too often but eaten at home for a treat. It will happen to me one day though so I'd best be prepared for it, maybe it won't be so bad if I don't need to prepare it.
It must be satisfying growing herbs and veg, I don't bother as no green fingers at all and the herbs just grow wild everywhere for the picking.
. That's one delight you have and we don't. I have eaten snails in Paris but really consider that the only place to eat them, except in desperation, and have so far managed to avoid any offerings of snail stew, probably as it takes so long to find enough to fill a pot it isn't offered round too often but eaten at home for a treat. It will happen to me one day though so I'd best be prepared for it, maybe it won't be so bad if I don't need to prepare it.
It must be satisfying growing herbs and veg, I don't bother as no green fingers at all and the herbs just grow wild everywhere for the picking.1 person likes this
@sunny68 (1327)
• India
11 Sep 09
never tried snails and i don't think i ever would. however i once did try its distant relative...oyster. it was okay...neither good, nor bad. as for the free stuff .. i grow my own green chillies and since i don't like hot food, it lasts pretty long....
(that was me after eating green chillies...please don't misunderstand...)
(that was me after eating green chillies...please don't misunderstand...)1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
11 Sep 09
Sorry had to leave for a moment as I know full well you live in India then got confused by you not liking hot food so had to go back and check, and of course you live in India. Are you in a region of mild food such as coconut based dishes? You've got me curious now.
@sunny68 (1327)
• India
12 Sep 09
i thought that since snails and oysters both have shells, they must be related somehow....though i have not checked their family tree... yes indeed...i am from India. but i am from north India and coconut based food is more popular in south India. In north India you have more of deep fried thick gravies, all sorts of spices, and hot foods. sometimes it becomes too hot to handle..
. yes indeed...i am from India. but i am from north India and coconut based food is more popular in south India. In north India you have more of deep fried thick gravies, all sorts of spices, and hot foods. sometimes it becomes too hot to handle..
@malpoa (1214)
• India
12 Sep 09
Snails and me, I dont think that will ever happen. Just the sight of it makes me run for salt. In my home, during rains, the snails used to come crawling to the wash basin outside in the veranda. I mean if that is the snail u are refering to.
They left marks whereever they go and I hated cleaning thewm up, so I used to throw salt over them. Me out on a killing spree!! hmm in my home town we got a lot of types of spinaches for free...It grows wild there. Other than that, we got fish for very cheap price.
Here, in Calcutta, nothing comes for free. We even have to buy fruits!!!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
13 Sep 09
Hi Malpoa, you must look overleaf in box nine as Stvasile has put a photo of a spinach porridge dish popular in Romania. I may like spinach but not cooked like that, it is better raw in salads or hardly cooked at all, just rinsed and stir fried quickly with some garlic and lemon, or tossed on top of a curry at the last moment. If someone produced a heap of boiled or pureed spinach I would have to refuse to eat it.
I'm so glad you now know that Europeans do not go round eating slugs
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
12 Sep 09
Hi Malpoa, snails crawl along in their protective shells so I think you could be thinking of the ones without shells known as slugs. These shrivel up and die when salt is thrown on them. Both snails and slugs leave slimey trails behind them but if it is slugs you have they are disgusting things and I've never heard of anyone eating them so please don't try.
Love spinach but never seen it growing wild. I would imagine that city life does not provide free food of any description, I suppose that's just an advantage of the rural lifestyle.
Love spinach but never seen it growing wild. I would imagine that city life does not provide free food of any description, I suppose that's just an advantage of the rural lifestyle.@malpoa (1214)
• India
13 Sep 09
Oh yes those are slugs, same family as that of snails. I was reminded of fresh water muscle when u mentioned of snails with shells. We do not get it for free, but it is very cheap in my hometown and i just ove to gorge on them hi hi.It isnt availale here, no one even knows about it.
You like spinach!! I dont!!! There are though some which I like when prepared with coconut and served hot, it tastes better then. We even puree this one type of spinach which has more water content and make rice porridge with it. The porridge looks green in colour and as a kid it used to amuse me. We had two ponds in my home, one is filled up now, but the other has a lot of fish. When my mother made on veg dishes on some days, i would go and fish a few for me and ask granny to fry them for me. She was more than happy to oblige...
@kitty42 (3923)
• United States
14 Sep 09
Hello my friend
The only thing I would like to see boiling in a pot is every squirrel they can possible get in one big pot, I will not eat them just like to see them boil, they tried to attack me one day, I have no use for these rodents, they make me sick, hope you are not a fan of these little funny looking things, but I really dislike them, first one tried to get me, then he called a friend one was behind me, the other was in front of me, I was with my patient he was laughing so much lol, I was screaming this guy came out of his house to help me, they tried to get pass him to get to me, all I did was walk pass with my patient, this man was feeding it/that whatever, he gave him 1 nut, I knew it was going to be a problem, I was watching him he was eating that nut so fast, my patient walks really really really slow, so we could not get but so far, no soon he was done he came right to us 
I will leave it alone now, I really hate squirrels did I say that already.
sorry for any squirrel lovers out there, just wishful thinking is all.
The only thing I would like to see boiling in a pot is every squirrel they can possible get in one big pot, I will not eat them just like to see them boil, they tried to attack me one day, I have no use for these rodents, they make me sick, hope you are not a fan of these little funny looking things, but I really dislike them, first one tried to get me, then he called a friend one was behind me, the other was in front of me, I was with my patient he was laughing so much lol, I was screaming this guy came out of his house to help me, they tried to get pass him to get to me, all I did was walk pass with my patient, this man was feeding it/that whatever, he gave him 1 nut, I knew it was going to be a problem, I was watching him he was eating that nut so fast, my patient walks really really really slow, so we could not get but so far, no soon he was done he came right to us I will leave it alone now, I really hate squirrels did I say that already.
sorry for any squirrel lovers out there, just wishful thinking is all.@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
14 Sep 09
Hi kitty brilliant, I love your response today, so a panful of boiling squirrels coming right up. Probably the only thing I'd object to being boiled in a pan would be a tortoise
Wonder if they do eat squirrels anywhere, I mean they could be thought of as rabbit like and people here breed rabbits to eat, but then again a squirrel is nothing more than a rat with a big tale. People eat pigeons but they are just flying rats. Brave Kitty for a unique and funny response, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
By the way, do you like squirrels?
Wonder if they do eat squirrels anywhere, I mean they could be thought of as rabbit like and people here breed rabbits to eat, but then again a squirrel is nothing more than a rat with a big tale. People eat pigeons but they are just flying rats. Brave Kitty for a unique and funny response, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
By the way, do you like squirrels?
@Battletech (16)
• United States
11 Sep 09
I have had snail soup before, but not from any Greek cuisine. While I was in Korea, I ate many things such as snails, squid, octopus, cows' head stew, and many other things that I can't identify. I know for some that might be disgusting, to each their own, correct?
However, now that I am not living in Korea, I am happy to have what most would consider to be normal food =)
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
11 Sep 09
Well funnily enough Battletech both squid and octopus are both considered normal foods here and feature on most taverna menus. I would imagine that they are prepared a different way in Korea and probably with a bit more spice added. What is disgusting to one is indeed lunch to someone else and it's generally the idea of a food that is more off putting than the reality. I might be offput by the thought of cow head stew but can think of plenty more disgusting things to face.
What were you doing living in Korea if I may ask?
@jb78000 (15139)
•
11 Sep 09
i'm veggie so won't be eating any snail stew in the foreseeable future but i can't really see it as being any worse than say clams. as for free food - well where i grew up there were obviously things like brambles and sorrel which got eaten. here not much, i suppose you could catch a pigeon for your supper if you didn't think too hard about what it had eaten.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
11 Sep 09
Hi jb, I know that people do cook pigeon and eat it and even saw Marcus Pierre White raving over preparing them but when all is said and done they are flying rats and complete vermin, hideous creatures and I wouldn't eat one ever.
So you have a principle behind not eating snails rather than having to admit to a revulsion of the idea, it's certainly no different to eating mussles which I do enjoy, it's just the preparation of the snails that puts me off.1 person likes this
@mrinali (392)
• India
14 Sep 09
Dear thea.. I'm a pure vegetarian by nature and a real wildlife lover. I have heard about people taking some beautiful creatures like frog, snakes, rats, monkeys, mongoose and even scorpions..as their favorite meals!! how ridiculous... Human beings are one of the intelligent parasites in this earth..does they really intelligent!!!!! anyway, Thanks for telling us about this greek recipe.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
14 Sep 09
Hi mrinali, so no rats or snails on the menu for you then. I think more and more people are cutting back on meat these days, we rarely eat it but primarily due to the expense rather than principles I'm afraid. I don't consider people who choose to eat meat, or snails, as less intelligent than others though, but I do question the wisdom of those who eat monkey as it is too closely allied with human.
@dbutheking (2347)
• India
13 Sep 09
I don't eat the non-vegitarian food. I am a lacto-ovo vegitarian..
We like to eat the vegetables and fruits.
The easily available here is Rice and cereals. So, here daily the Rice is the main dish..
Have a great day.
