Sambal Mangrove Snail

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I can't visit Kuala Lumpur (KL) for meetings without a side-trip to a local eatery serving the popular "Balitong" or "Siput Sedut".

Known as the truncated mangrove snail in English, this species of sea snail is common in the coastal mangrove forests of Malaysia. It feeds on sea grasses and small organic materials that the tide brings in and can usually be seen crawling up the trunks of mangrove trees during high tide.

Locals buy them live from the wet markets around KL and stir fry them with sambal chilli or quick-boil them and dip in belachan chilli. I prefer my "Balitong" fried with sambal and curry leaves.

To eat this marine snail, you suck the meat out of the shell and the tail end of the shell needs to be chopped off to facilitate this. It can be messy at times, but I guess it's all part of the joy of eating.

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