How To Prepare Whelks

Whelks AKA Sea Snails

Usually you will find that whelks are cooked and taken out of their shells when you buy them, there's only a tiny amount of preparation that needs to be done to serve these.

Ready To Prep

• Peel back the top layer to show the raised bit

The Smooth Bit With No Speckles

• Dig a fork under the raised bit

Get Stuck In

• Press your thumb firmly on top and pull

It's Like Alien

• Out will pop a horrible worm like thing 

Yup, Alien

•  Put into a colander and wash under cold water

A Good Rinse

That's all the preparation that cooked whelks need. I can't believe how many people eat whelks with the worm thing still in them, from what I can gather because I've never eaten it, it's full of sand and well, yuck, I don't want to be eating that!

And Serve

You can of course buy live whelks and cook them yourself, but as with all shellfish (minus prawns, I always cook my own prawns for recipes, the pre-cooked ones are for eating alone) I buy mine all pre-cooked for an easier life.

Traditionally in these parts you would serve them with a splash of non brewed condiment and a sprinkle of white pepper. As neither of these agree with me I like nothing more than to dip them in a brine, either from olives, capers or the lovely pickle vinegar you get from jars of pickled onions and gherkins. Call me odd if you like!

Happy Days.