Fish
Winkle
Winkles (periwinkles), chiefly Littorina littorea, are small intertidal sea snails sold cooked in the shell across Britain, Ireland, and parts of northern Europe. Meat is tiny, firm, and ocean-briny—an old seaside snack eaten with a pin. They are not whelks (which are larger) and not land snails; the pleasure is the ritual as much as the morsel. Buy ready-boiled from fishmongers or boil live winkles in salted water until they can be picked. Serve cold with vinegar and white pepper. Freshness means clean sea smell and moist meats; dried-out rubbery winkles in stale water are a disappointment.
Also known as: Winkle, Periwinkle, Bigorneau, Alikruik
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A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.
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Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 4.83 g
- Saturated Fat 1.05 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 2.15 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 2.05 g
- Cholesterol 55.8 mg
- Sodium 77.4 mg
- Salt 0.21 g
- Total Carbohydrate 0 g
- Dietary Fibre 0 g
- Total Sugars 0 g
- Complex / starch 0 g
- Protein 21.2 g
- Water 72.2 g
- Energy 131 kcal
- Water 72.2 g
- Protein 21.2 g
- Animal Protein 20.2 g
- Fat 4.83 g
- Saturated Fat 1.05 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 2.15 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 2.05 g
- Vitamins 46.8 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.15 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 3.9 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.68 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.38 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 2.8 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 11.2 µg
- Vitamin B12 — Cobalamin 3.1 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin D 1.4 µg
- Vitamin E 0.55 mg
- Vitamin K 0.5 µg
- Minerals 397 mg
- Major Minerals 309 mg
- Trace Minerals 87.5 mg
- Salt 0.21 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.21 g
- Cholesterol 55.8 mg
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-b12-cobalamin: 3.1 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.1 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.15 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 3.9 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.68 · vitamin-b6: 0.38 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 2.8 · vitamin-b9-folate: 11.2 · vitamin-d: 1.4 · vitamin-e: 0.55 · vitamin-k: 0.5 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 77.35 · Potassium: 186 · Calcium: 46 · Iron: 1.1 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 86 ·
Fish flesh is lean to oily depending on species; marine omega-3s rise in fatty fish.
History
European coastal foragers collected periwinkles from rocky shores as everyday protein.
Street sellers and seaside stalls made winkles a working-class British snack with pins and paper cones.
Irish and British markets kept boiled winkles as Friday and seaside tradition.
Specialty seafood counters revived winkles for nostalgia menus and nose-to-tail seafood platters.