Wicked Good Mussels Recipes

CREAMY GARLICKY MUSSELS

Steps:

• Scrub the mussels with a vegetable brush under running water; discard any with broken shells or that remain opened when tapped. In a large pot over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter in the olive oil. Add the garlic, thyme, and lemon slices and cook until everything has softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the mussels and stir to coat them with all the flavors. Add the wine, then the chicken broth; cover the pot and steam for 10 to 12 minutes until the mussels open. Remove the mussels from the pot. Take the meat out of 10 of the mussels and put them back into the pot along with the remaining butter. Using an immersion blender, buzz the liquid until the sauce thickens and becomes creamy; taste and adjust seasoning. Divide the remaining mussels among the serving bowls and spoon over the sauce.
• Serve with plenty of crusty French bread to dip in the sauce.

MUSSELS WITH GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Place mussels in heavy large Dutch oven, cover and cook over high heat until mussels open, shaking pan occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain mussels, reserving liquid. Transfer mussels to bowl; discard any that do not open. Tent bowl with foil.
• Melt butter in same Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add shallots and garlic and sauté until tender, about 3 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons parsley, lemon juice, lemon peel and reserved liquid from mussels and bring to boil. Season to taste with pepper. Drizzle garlic butter over mussels. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon parsley.

MUSSELS WITH GARLIC AND FINES HERBES

Steps:

• Clean the mussels: Scrub them well under cold running water. Debeard them, if necessary, pulling out any wiry fronds coming through the seams of the shells.
• In a large pot or deep sauté pan, combine the white wine, half the shallot, and the bay leaf. Place the mussels on top and cover with a lid. Bring to a boil over high heat to steam open the mussels, 3 to 4 minutes. You may want to give them a stir after 2 minutes to disperse the heat evenly among the mussels. When the mussels have opened (if there are a few that don't, this is an indication that they are dead or bad - discard them), transfer them to four shallow bowls.
• Strain the cooking liquid, through either a coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth, into a clean pan, add the olive oil, remaining shallot, and garlic, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the mixture slightly; it will condense to an opaque liquid. Taste. If it's too salty, add a little water. Sprinkle the herbs and spoon the sauce over the mussels. Serve promptly, with a tangy baguette torn into large pieces, which you can use to soak up the broth when you're finished with the mussels.

WICKED GOOD MUSSELS

Steps:

• Mix wine, shallots, and 4 cloves garlic in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Add mussels. Cook until shells open, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Discard any unopened mussels. Drain the rest and place in a bowl.
• Melt butter in a pan; add remaining garlic and heat until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add parsley, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Pour over the steamed mussels.

AMAZING MUSSELS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots, and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned. Add a splash of the beef broth, jalapeno, and red chile pepper, and simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors.
• Add the tomatoes, basil leaves, white wine, and remaining beef broth. Bring to a boil. Dissolve cornstarch in a small amount of the light cream, and pour it and the rest of the cream into the stock pot. Return to a boil, and add the mussels. Cook until all of the shells have opened, about 5 minutes.