Have You Tried The Classic Snail Pepper Soup?

The snail pepper soup is a delicious meal enjoyed by locals in some parts of Africa and health-conscious food lovers all over the world. Snails contains omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamins A, B12, E and K.

When combined with utazi (GANGRONEMA latifolium), an edible plant that is highly potent and used to treat certain ailments, it becomes completely medicinal.

The snail pepper soup is easy to prepare and you’d be done in no time.

Ingredients

• Snails (10)
• Black Pepper (popularly known as Cameroon pepper in Nigeria)
• Calabash Nutmeg (Ehuru or Ehu)
• Onion
• Salt
• Dry Utazi
• Seasoning (2 cubes)

Preparation

Note: If you don’t know how to break the shell of the snail, ask whoever you are buying the snails from to direct you to who will. They usually know and/or offer to do it.

1. Wash the snails with alum or lime. Wash at least three times to remove any tiny broken piece of shell.
2. Roast the nutmeg seed in a dry pan until its aroma fills the air. Remove the outer body so that you are left with the skin and pound. It’d become like dust. Set aside
3. Put your clean snails in a pot of water that is a little more than the snails (cover)
4. Add the cubes and onion. Allow to boil
5. Add pepper,nutmeg and salt. Leave for 15 minutes.
6. Rub the utazi on your palm. It’d become shredded and add into the pot.
7. Bring down after three minutes.
   Your snail pepper soup is ready for serving.