Fried Mussels In Ouzo Batter Recipes

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH FENNEL, TOMATOES, OUZO, AND CREAM

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in shallots and garlic, and cook until tender. Stir in fennel and tomato, and continue cooking about 5 minutes.
• Mix white wine, ouzo, and heavy cream into the saucepan, and bring to a boil. Gradually stir in mussels, 1/2 the basil, and salt.
• Cover saucepan, and continue cooking about 5 minutes, until the mussels have opened. Garnish with remaining basil to serve.

FRIED MUSSELS IN OUZO BATTER

Steps:

• Place the mussels in a large pot over high heat and add the wine, if using. Cover and let the mussels steam for about 5 minutes, shaking the pot and stirring every now and then, until the shells open. Throw away the ones that stay closed. Shuck the mussels and discard the shells. Cover and refrigerate until needed, up to 3 hours.
• Add salt and Aleppo pepper to the mussels, dust with about 2 tablespoons cornstarch,and toss to coat lightly. Heat about 2 inches of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Mix the remaining 1 cup cornstarch, the flour, and the baking powder in a bowl. Add the ouzo and sparkling water, whisking to incorporate. It should be runny. If too thick, add a little more sparkling water.
• When the oil is very hot (about 350°F), dip a few mussels at a time in the batter,remove with tongs, and fry, turning them as they turn deep golden, about 1 minute total. Transfer to a plate lined with a double layer of paper towels to drain.
• Serve with lemon quarters and skordalia.

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH FENNEL AND OUZO

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over high heat on the grates of the grill. Stir in shallots and garlic and cook until tender. Stir in fennel and tomato, and continue cooking about 5 minutes. Add white wine and ouzo and reduce by half. Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in mussels, 1/2 the basil and season with salt and pepper. Cover the pan and cook until the mussels are open, discarding any that do not. Stir in the remaining basil and serve in large bowls with grilled bread.

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH TOMATOES, GARLIC, AND OUZO

Steps:

• In a large pot on high heat saute the onion in the olive oil until tender but not brown. Add the garlic. Continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, mussels, and parsley. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until all of the mussels open. Discard the unopened ones and with a large spoon stir the mussels around. Add the ouzo and taste sauce for seasoning.

BATTER-FRIED MUSSELS WITH GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Wash the mussels, scrubbing their shells and pulling off the little"beard" with a sharp paring knife.
• Place the mussels in a large wide pot with about two inches of water.
• Cover and steam until the mussels open, about six or seven minutes.
• Remove and drain, discarding any mussels that haven't opened.
• Remove the mussels from their shells and place in a colander.
• Season lightly with salt and toss with about one and a half cups of flour, until all the mussels are coated.
• Tap the colander to rid it of excess flour.
• Fill a large skillet with about one and a half inches of oil and heat until almost smoking.
• Add the mussels, in batches i f necessary and fry until crisp and golden.
• Serve warm Either in a mortar or pestle or in the bowl of a food processor, pulverize the garlic and salt to a paste.
• Add the walnuts and pound or pulverize until the mixture is mealy.
• Dampen the bread under the tap and squeeze dry.
• Add to the bowl and continue pulverizing all together.
• Drizzle in the olive oil and vinegar, alternating between each, and pound all together until the skordalia is creamy.
• If it is too thick, add a little water.
• Serve as a dip, or as an accompaniment to fresh or fried vegetables and various fish.

FRIED BEER-BATTERED MUSSELS WITH TWO SAUCES

Steps:

• Make sauces:
• Put 1/2 cup mayonnaise into each of 2 small serving bowls and whisk mustard into 1 bowl. Whisk cilantro, lime juice, and curry powder into other bowl. Season dipping sauces with salt and pepper and keep chilled, covered.
• Make batter and fry mussels:
• Whisk beer into flour in a bowl until combined well.
• Heat oil in a 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until thermometer registers 375°F.
• While oil is heating, pat mussels dry between layers of paper towels, pressing lightly.
• Dredge 10 mussels in batter, letting excess drip off, and fry in oil, stirring, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer mussels as fried with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, then season with salt. Fry remaining mussels in batches in same manner, returning oil to 375°F between batches.
• Serve mussels immediately, with dipping sauces.