The ốc cừ (also known as moon snails) in Phú Quý are harvested by local fishermen who dive into the sea. Recently, along with the moon crabs, Phú Quý moon snails have become a specialty dish that diners eagerly enjoy whenever they visit this island district.
The moon snail has a thick scale near its mouth resembling a mother-of-pearl button, which when flipped over, looks like a moon shape. Many visitors who try this snail call it the “knocking snail” because they have to tap it a few times to get the snail meat to come out.
According to fishermen, a few years ago, one kilogram of moon snails in Phú Quý could only be exchanged for one kilogram of rice. However, the price of this snail has surged recently due to the growing demand from locals and tourists visiting the island. Moon snails have become a specialty not only in Phú Quý but are also supplied to high-end restaurants in cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Đồng Nai, Bình Dương, and more.
The snail meat is crispy and sweet like ốc hương (a type of sea snail) and is often prepared in many delicious ways such as steaming, boiling, stir-frying, and grilling. Before cooking, the snails are soaked in salted water mixed with ginger and chili to remove sand and dirt, then rinsed several times with clean water.
The simplest preparation is boiling: the snails are placed in a pot with cold water just covering them, along with some stalks of lemongrass, ginger, and crushed chili. When boiled, the snails release a light aroma of lemongrass and the spicy scent of chili and ginger, which is very appetizing. Eating boiled moon snails is incomplete without a dipping sauce of fish sauce mixed with ginger; the spicy sharpness of ginger and chili elevates this simple dish to a rich flavor experience.
Another popular dish is grilled moon snails with butter. After cleaning, the snails are placed on a grill. When they are almost cooked, butter is added inside each snail. The heat melts the butter, soaking deep into the snail meat. Once the snails emit a fragrant aroma, they are taken off the grill and enjoyed with salt, pepper, and lime. Unlike boiled snails, grilled snails have a dry texture but remain crispy and tender, with a rich buttery flavor and a delicate aroma that is very enticing.
For those who enjoy a spicy kick, stir-fried moon snails with salt and chili is a favorite. First, the snails are cleaned and briefly boiled until just cooked, then drained. Next, they are stir-fried in a pan with salt, ground chili, and other seasonings to taste. The snail shells turn golden and soak up the spicy salt mixture, making the dish visually appealing and stimulating the appetite. The salty, spicy flavors combined with the rich, crispy snail meat keep you coming back for more without getting tired of it.
