Μεγάλοι καραόλοι, αλευρωμένοι και τηγανητοί (Μαγειρεύω Κυπριακά 2015). © Μουσείο Κυπριακών Τροφίμων και Διατροφής.
In Cyprus, very large snails with hard shells were called mnouhari. After boiling them in water, snails are floured and fried.
Name - Recipe
Μεγάλα σαλιγκάρια σουβλάκι.
In Cyprus, large and hard-shelled snails were called mnouhari (Katzi 2000).
Mnouhari snails
Flour
Olive oil
Wash the snails with water. Lightly rub the snails against each other and change the water 6-8 times until they are clean. Put them in a pot with cold water and boil them over low heat. Then remove the snails from their shell and thread them over thin sprigs of lentisk tree (Pistacia lentiscus). Flour them and fry them in olive oil. (Katzi 2000).
Boiling.
Frying.
Functional and symbolic role
Snails were consumed mainly during fasting periods. Cypriots collected snails in the first month of spring when it was humid and also after the first rain in autumn (Katzi 2000).
Additional information and bibliography
Katzi, M. (2000). "The food that nature gave us", Λαογραφική Κύπρος, 30(50), 104-110.
Demetra Dimitriou
Traditional Recipes
Boiled mnouhari (large) snails
In Cyprus, very large snails with hard shells were called mnouhari. After boiling them in water, they were served with olive oil and lemon juice.
Traditional Recipes
Snails with olive oil and lemon
Very simple, easy and quick recipe. Boiled snails with olive oil and lemon juice.
Traditional Recipes
Snails with pilaf bulgur
A recipe for snails and Cyprus' favourite pilaf made of bulgur wheat.
Traditional Recipes
Snails with pilaf rice
Recipe from Rizokarpaso. A dish that was prepared all year round and especially during fasting periods, such as Lent.
Traditional Recipes
Snails yahni
Snails with potatoes or zucchini in tomato sauce. Searching for and gathering snails was particularly common after rain, while their consumption was more closely linked to periods of fasting.
Traditional Recipes
Snails yahni with pilaf bulgur
Snails in wine and tomato sauce with pilaf bulgur, a dish prepared all over Cyprus. Cypriots have been using snails as part of their diet since ancient times. They would cook them mostly during…
Traditional Recipes
Souvla krasáti
Recipe from the village of Lysi. Before being barbecued on the charcoal, the meat is marinated in wine and spices.
Traditional Recipes
Zucchini flowers stuffed with mnouhari snails
Zucchini flowers stuffed with bulgur wheat and mnouhari (large) snails. An old recipe from the village of Tala in Paphos district.