Kuhol: Edible Golden Apple Snails

Kuhol is an exotic dish. It’s a very tasty dish, especially when it’s cooked in coconut milk. This is one dish that you must try. 😀

Kuhol Is A Filipino Delicacy

Kuhol is not just known here in the Philippines but in France as well. There, they call it escargot. While kuhol is served as the main dish here in the Philippines, escargot is pretty much served as an hors d’oeuvre.

Kuhol, translated in English is a snail. It’s pretty hard to imagine eating a snail, right? Well, there is a variety of snails that are edible.

Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck (scientific name of golden apple snails or golden kuhol) is the edible kind. Of course, the majority of us just call it kuhol.

Some of you may have second thoughts about eating kuhol, considering they’re pests in the rice field. But think again. 😀

Kuhol not only tastes good but it’s loaded with nutrients. We’ll get into that in a bit.

It’s safe to say that kuhol is another Filipino delicacy. Just like most of our local dishes, it’s still pretty much a complete meal. You just need some Oryza sativa (the scientific name for rice) to eat it with. 😃

There’s always the option of eating it as it is, devoid of any rice. Pair it up with some beer and it becomes the perfect pulutan dish for the folks who want to enjoy some beer and the company of their friends.

For some of you who are not familiar with the word pulutan, it simply means a dish is eaten as it is and paired with some beer. You can’t really say it’s an hors d’oeuvre because pulutan dishes are eaten after a meal (usually dinner) by a group of friends who are chatting the night or day away. 😀

Whether you eat it as a main dish or pulutan, kuhol is very tasty. If you haven’t tried it, then it’s time you do.

Ginataang Kuhol Is Delicious

Ginataang kuhol is a delicious dish you can enjoy anytime. Just like many Filipino dishes, it’s cooked in coconut milk. Hence, it’s called ginataang. It’s safe to say that this is one of the most popular ways to enjoy kuhol.

The sweet coconut milk goes very well with the chewy meat of kuhol.

The sweet coconut milk goes very well with the chewy meat of kuhol.

Ginataang kuhol is a pretty simple dish to make but you just need to make sure that the kuhol is washed and cooked very well.

Our Easy Ginataang Kuhol Recipe

Here’s our easy ginataang kuhol recipe. Below are the ingredients.

First thing’s first. Make sure the kuhol is washed well. Pour in some cooking oil onto a pan and start sauteing the kuhol with the onions, garlic, and ginger.

Just keep on mixing and mixing. This will also ensure that the kuhol is being cooked.

Get the coconut shavings and start squeezing some milk. Set aside the first squeeze of coconut milk. Then squeeze again for more coconut milk and set aside.

Pour the first squeeze of coconut milk into the pan and let it simmer.

Put in the green leafy vegetables. Then pour in the second squeeze of coconut milk and just let it simmer again.

Health Benefits Of Eating Kuhol

Now, let’s talk about the health benefits of eating kuhol. 😃

One of the best things about eating apple snail is the number of nutrients that you can receive. When you eat these snails, you will be provided with some of the necessary nutrients that you need.

These include calcium, protein, fiber, and lots of vitamins. According to Healthyeating.sfgate.com, snails can provide you healthy doses of vitamin E, selenium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

In addition to all of these benefits, you will also find that they are very inexpensive. Therefore, it is easy to make this a part of your diet.

There’s a lot of good reasons to try cooking and eating ginataang kuhol.

When was the last time you ate it or have you ever tried eating it? Feel free to share your thoughts with us. We would love to hear from you.