Aliter Cochleas (Snails, Another Way) is a traditional Ancient Roman recipe for garden snails fed on milk and flour and fried in garlic. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Ancient Roman version of: Snails, Another Way (Aliter Cochleas).
24 snails [garden snails or edible snails]
1.1l milk
4 tbsp plain flour garum (or Nam Pla)
oil for frying
2 garlic cloves
4 tbsp red wine
Method:
If you're going to use garden snails, collect the largest ones. You can do this over several nights by placing them into a suitable box containing lettuce. Make sure you only collect snails from places where pesticides are not used. Starve the snails for two days to make sure there are no pesticide residues.
Remove the membranes from around the snails (this will allow them to come out of their shells easier later). Put the snails into a pot and cover with fresh milk mixed with about 2 tbsp plain flour. The snails should be left in the milk for two days, but every hour you should remove the snails' waste products from the milk (your slaves can do this). Change the milk and flour mix every 12 hours.
After two to three days the snails should have absorbed the milk and they will not be able to get back into their shells. Remove the now fattened snails from their shells. Smash the garlic with the flat of a knife, remove the skins and chop finely. Heat some oil in a pan and add the garlic. When this begins to fry add the snails and fry for about five minutes. Add the red wine and cook until reduced by half. Tip out onto a dish and flavour with garum. Serve immediately.
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