Zuppa Di Mussels Recipes

ZUPPA DI MUSSELS (CLAMS) O VONGOLE AL POMODORO

Steps:

• (Start preparing a day ahead.).
• Cooking Time: 30 minutes.
• Preparation:.
• Soak shellfish overnight in salted water (in sea water if available, or see instructions below.).
• Drain in a colander. Mince abundant parsley, cut the tomatoes, and grind some pepper in your peppermill.
• Sliced garlic as finely as possible. Not minced, just paper thin fine slices.
• Heat the olive oil in a heavy 3 quart saucepan or Dutch oven over very low heat. Add the garlic; cook slowly until the garlic just begins to turn very light brown, this should take about 10 minutes. 2. Add the crushed red pepper, if using, and remove from the heat. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Return the pan to high heat; add the wine and boil 3 minutes. Add the cleaned clams or mussels and cover tightly. Steam, shaking the pan occasionally, just until the shells open, about 2 minutes for the mussels, 6 minutes for the clams. 60 seconds before completion add tomatoes and parsley if desired, more red pepper or black pepper to taste. Spoon the shellfish and broth into shallow bowls and serve very hot.
• Cook a minute or two more, and serve, with toasted bread or over pasta.
• Note:.
• If one of the shellfish fails to open upon being cooked, do not eat it! It was already dead when it went into the pot, and eating it could make you quite sick.

ZUPPA DE CLAMS (OR MUSSELS)

Steps:

• Wash and dry the clams and soak them in a large bowl in cold, salted water for about 30 minutes.
• Any remaining sand should fall to the bottom of the bowl.
• Drain the clams and rinse them well in a colander under running water.
• Crush one clove of garlic, and slice the remaining cloves very thin.
• In a large, heavy pan, sauté the crushed garlic until it begins to brown, then remove from the pan and discard.
• Add the remaining sliced garlic and the parsley.
• Cook over very low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the tomatoes and enough liquid to just make a slightly soupy dish.
• You don't want too much liquid in this, but judge the amount to your taste.
• Season with the salt and pepper, then raise the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes.
• (Add more liquid if necessary).
• Add the clams, lower the heat again, cover pan, and let steam for about 10 minutes, or until the shells have opened and the clams are ready.
• Discard any unopened clams.
• Sprinkle with more freshly ground pepper and the basil, if desired.
• (You can substitute a teaspoon of dried if you wish).
• Serve in shallow bowls with slices of bread for dunking.

ZUPPA DI COZZE: MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat up extra-virgin olive oil in a deep saucepan. Add the garlic and chile peppers and cook until the garlic is golden. Then add the tomatoes, and saute for approximately a minute. Add the mussels, wine, salt and stir. Cover with a lid, allowing the mussels to steam open. Cook until all the mussels are fully opened. Discard any unopened mussels. Sprinkle the mixture with parsley, add more salt, if needed, and stir well. Serve immediately with toasted bread.

A MUSSELS SOUP FROM BOSA

Steps:

• 1. Cut away any protruding tufts from the mussels. Set aside any whose shells are even slightly open and tap them sharply. Check them after 2 or 3 minutes and throw out all those that are still open. Drop the mussels in a basin or large bowl full of cold water, move them around a little bit, then let them settle for a few minutes. Retrieve them without stirring up the water. Pour the water out slowly to see if any sand has collected at the bottom. If any has, rinse out the container, refill it with fresh cold water, and drop the mussels into it again. Repeat this procedure until the water runs clear.
• 2. Pour the olive oil into a 6-quart saucepan, add the garlic, turn on the heat to medium high, and cook the garlic, stirring occasionally, until it becomes colored a light gold. Add the parsley, stir two or three times, then add the bread crumbs, stirring for a few seconds.
• 3. Put the drained mussels in the pot, turn them around a bit, then cover the pot. Uncover after a few minutes, add the grated pecorino cheese, stirring it well into the pot.
• 4. Add the white wine, let it bubble away briskly for two to three minutes, then put in the tomatoes and the chili pepper. Turn the contents of the pot over two or three times and continue to cook for 10 to 15 minutes.
• 5. Place a slice or two of toasted or grilled bread in each individual soup bowl, distribute the contents of the pot over the bread, and serve piping hot.