Here is a wonderful summertime recipe for those hot nights that you really don't want to get the kitchen all heated up.

The only places I have heard of this delicacy being served are the island of Sicily, and right here in Rhode Island. RI has a very heavy Italian-American background, and I don't think there is a restaurant on Federal Hill that does not have Insalata di Scungilli (snail salad) on the menu.

This is what you start with, a scungilli, aka sea snail, aka whelk, aka baby conch

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv309/Hoser997/002-1.jpg

You simmer them until they're tender, then slice paper thin..I use my meat slicer for this, then marinate with the rest of the ingredients overnight.
Book: Family, Firehouse and Friends Favorites
Chapter: Main
Sicilian snail salad....this is my personal version. There are probably as many different versions as there are people in Rhode Island, where it is extremely popular.
4 cups cooked conch, sliced paper thin
1/2 cup your very best extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 stalks celery,sliced thinly on the bias
1 red onion, halved and sliced thinly
1 bunch radishes, sliced thinly
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons Italian seasonings
1 bunch Italian parsley
1 pinch crushed red pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
Iceberg or Boston lettuce leaves
Lemon wedges
Toss all ingredients together in non-reactive bowl, then refrigerate and let marinate overnight if possible.
Serve salad on lettuce leaves with lemon wedges, and garlic bread on the side.

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv309/Hoser997/003-2.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv309/Hoser997/004-2.jpg

Here it is, plated up with a garnish of chopped scallions, lemon wedges and an order of grilled garlic bread. YUM!
http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv309/Hoser997/005-1.jpg

liking that :thumb:

In fact have some 'I got snails on the forum' poi-nts :banana_smiley:

Not sure where I'd buy snails that big though :-(

We've got some pretty big slugs in the garden - what dya reckon :whistle:
I'm sure there's an eastern europaen country where they pickle slugs as a delicacy...

Wow!! That's beautiful!!! Never had this dish before, but would love to try it!! :thumb: :thumb:

Not sure where I'd buy snails that big though :-(

We've got some pretty big slugs in the garden - what dya reckon :whistle:
I'm sure there's an eastern europaen country where they pickle slugs as a delicacy...[/QUOTE]

I believe I'd just opt out on the slugs CA :lol: But larger snails are ok if you just slice them very, very thin.
I'd check with your fishmonger...many places around here keep them in the freezer...already cooked and ready for slicing. I guess they might be known by another name over on that side of "the pond" as well.

Actually, after a bit of reseach it appears you would be looking for whelk http://www.glaucus.org.uk/molluscs.htm

lol no we call snails snails.
The kind of seafood section you're talking of would only exist is coastal towns and I live as far from the coast as it's possible to get in the uk.

But even than the english just never really took to eating molluscs - mussels and other bivalves aside.

I'e eaten plenty snails in the past - but can't remember the last time I saw any for sale in the uk.

Thin sliced octopii is also excellent in that dish! At'sa Italian! :thumb:

Thin sliced octopii is also excellent in that dish! At'sa Italian! :thumb:

That's what I was thinkin Rich since I can't get snails round here. Copy and pasted Hoser. Thanks man:thumb:
And points for somethin new and excitingpoi-nts

yes sir i'll ring up some poi-nts on that meal.I would love to try it , I dont think I could it the wife to go for it though

Hoser, what kind of conch is that? Any chance of a pic with the shell on? We have tons of conch's around here but I can think of at least 6 different kinds. You mentioned welk, does it look like this.
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQaXngFUbFIGNabEumFqJTfpbcVxx88q EN_EuzrOb2fYLwtblip

or this
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YnxLbD9kQeo/TIZzokV9_QI/AAAAAAAAByY/gMLCAE4rjkU/s1600/horse-crab-eating.jpg

pr this
http://www.sciencemetropolis.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/conch1.jpg

Very out of the box Dave. I love it, if I had points sir you would be getting them. :thumb:

Very pretty salad, but I can't do snails...:lol:

MARK...if you can picture a regular conch shell like you'd see down south, it's just a minature version of that. The whelk is also similar to the conch but a bit slimmer and more tapered. They all taste just about the same, and I would highly recommend the octopi that Rich was talking about. The man lives near the best Greektown in the whole USA,(Detroit) so I'm assuming he knows his octopus salad.