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Easy Spanish Style Winkles Recipe

    I often go picking fresh winkles on the beach... This time I'll prepare them in tomato sauce Spanish style, a great appetizer!As we lived in Spain for seven years, I would often go foraging for fresh winkles on the beach… Not only because they are cute, but to cook with them! This time I decided to prepare them in tomato sauce Spanish style, a great appetizer!

    I know what you will say, why bother.

    Picking winkles from the rocks while standing knee high and more in the foaming surf.

    On one of our walks along the pebble beaches here in Tenerife I spotted some rocks with these little creatures clinging to them.

    So I took off my walking shoes and socks and went into the cold water to have a better look.

     

    I often go picking fresh winkles on the beach... This time I'll prepare them in tomato sauce Spanish style, a great appetizer!

    Winkles prepared Spanish Style

    It was a treasure trove of sea snails, pretty big ones.

    I started collecting them, took them home.

    And what else, I cooked them too.

    You might think, yew!

    How sure are you that these snails are edible?

    Don’t worry, I know my snails. It is not the first time that I pick these buggers to prepare them at home. I did some research once. And I never got sick after eating them so I am pretty confident.

    If you are not using the fresh sea snails right away, the best way to store them is in a bowl with water to which you add a pinch of salt.

    Add the snails and place the bowl in the fridge.

    Land Snails vs. Sea Snails

    Watch out here: don’t soak land snails or you will drown them. Keep land snails in a dry bowl in the fridge.

    Here’s a snail recipe I made in Malta with wild fennel!

    So back to my snail recipe.

    I had to scrape my other ingredients together of what was still left in my kitchen.

    This unplanned bite and the fact that I was flying back home 2 days later meant that I had almost nothing left to cook with. But it all worked out just fine. Made a great garlicky tomato sauce with white wine and local smoked paprika.

    Just what these delicate snails needed.

    Enjoy!

    I often go picking fresh winkles on the beach... This time I'll prepare them in tomato sauce Spanish style, a great appetizer!

    Easy Spanish Style Winkles Recipe

    Spanish Style Winkles
    Prep Time
    15 mins
    Cook Time
    20 mins
    Total Time
    35 mins
     

    I often go picking fresh winkles on the beach... This time I'll prepare them in tomato sauce Spanish style, a great appetizer!

    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Spanish
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories per serving: 201 kcal
    Ingredients
    • 7 oz fresh winkles (200 g)
    • 2 small fresh spring onions
    • 1 large garlic clove
    • ½ tsp tomato paste
    • 1 glass dry white wine
    • ½ tsp dried herbs
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • smoked paprika powder
    • salt
    Instructions
    1. First of all pour the winkles in a sieve or colander and rinse them very well. Then let them drain for 5 minutes and rinse them again. Repeat this 3 more times.
      Winkles
    2. Peel the garlic clove and chop it up finely. Then add it to a medium non-stick pan together with the olive oil and the bay leaf.
      Winkles
    3. Place the pan over medium heat until the oil is hot and gently cook the garlic in the oil for 3 minutes. Then add the tomato paste and a pinch of smoked paprika.
      Winkles
    4. Stir and cook for 3 minutes. Then add the rinsed and drained winkles to the warm pan.
      Winkles
    5. Sprinkle with the dried herbs. Turn the heat high now and pour in the white wine. Season with a pinch of salt.

      Winkles
    6. Stir the winkles a little until the wine sauce starts to boil. Then put a lid on the pan and let the winkles vigorously cook for about 4 to 5 minutes. In the meantime slice the spring onions up finely. Add them to the cooked winkles in the end. Stir well and cook until the tomato sauce is glossy. Then check the seasoning and add extra smoked paprika or salt to taste if necessary.

      Winkles
    7. Let the winkles cook for another minute. Then take the pan off the heat and pour the winkles and the tomato sauce in small bowls or onto deep plates. Serve immediately.
      Winkles

    Easy Spanish Style Winkles Recipe

     

     

     

    Are winkles and periwinkles the same?

    Winkles and periwinkles are actually the same little sea snails, scientifically known as Littorina littorea.

    You will find them hanging out in rocky coastal areas and tide pools. These charming critters are loved in various cuisines around the world for their mild flavor and tender texture.

    So whether you call them winkles or periwinkles, you are talking about the same delightful sea creatures!

    Where to find winkles when foraging?

    When you are out foraging for winkles, also known as periwinkles, head to those rocky coastal spots with plenty of tide pools.

    You will find these little sea snails hanging out in the intertidal zone, which is the area between high and low tide marks. Look for them clinging to rocks, seaweed, and hiding in crevices in the rock pools. They love hard surfaces like rocks more than sandy areas.

    Remember to forage responsibly and check your local regulations to make sure it is allowed.

    Can you eat winkles raw?

    It is usually best not to eat winkles (periwinkles) raw because there can be a risk of bacterial contamination or parasites.

    Cooking them thoroughly is a good way to make sure they are safe to eat. Most people boil or steam them until tender, making them easy to enjoy.

    If you do want to try them raw, just be sure they are from a clean, safe source and have been properly handled and stored.

    Can you freeze them?

    Sure thing!

    You can definitely freeze them.

    Just give them a good clean first, then blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes. After blanching, let them cool, and pop them into an airtight container or a freezer bag. This way, they are all set for later. When you are ready to enjoy them, simply thaw and cook as you like.

    Freezing keeps them fresh and tasty!

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