If you’re looking for an exquisite seafood dish that is bursting with flavor and incredibly easy to prepare, look no further than big mussels steamed in garlic and vermouth. This classic French dish is an elegant and delicious appetizer or main course that will leave a lasting impression on your taste buds. The combination of plump, briny mussels, aromatic garlic, and herbaceous vermouth creates a tantalizing broth that is perfect for dipping bread or serving over pasta. So gather your ingredients and get ready to embark on a culinary journey that will transport you to the heart of France.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
STEAMED MUSSELS WITH GARLIC AND PARSLEY
This is absolutely the simplest way to cook mussels, and perhaps the most satisfying. A big pot of them makes an easy, festive dinner any night of the week.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories easy, quick, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat broiler. Put olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper and let sizzle for 30 seconds without browning. Add the mussels, stir to coat and increase heat to high. Add the wine or water, and put on lid. After 2 minutes, give the mussels a stir, then replace lid and continue cooking until all mussels have opened, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Paint cut sides of the baguette pieces with oil and place cut side up under broiler to toast. Rub toasts with the remaining garlic cloves.
- Stir the chopped parsley into the mussels, then ladle mussels and broth into bowls. Serve with the garlic toasts.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 675, UnsaturatedFat 12 grams, Carbohydrate 58 grams, Fat 19 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 63 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 1758 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams
MUSSELS IN GARLIC BUTTER
This is a very quick and simple recipe for Mussels. I am not a seafood eater myself but the family do enjoy these.
Provided by Tisme
Categories Mussels
Time 20m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cream the butter with the garlic and parsley in a bowl and set aside.
- Place the mussels in a saucepan with the remaining ingredients, bring to boil and simmer for 3 minutes or until the mussels open.
- Detach the lid from the base and place the mussels still sitting in their shells on a baking sheet.
- Dot generously with the garlic butter and grill until the butter has melted.
- Serve the mussles on their own or in the wine broth.
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.
FRAGRANT STEAMED MUSSELS IN VERMOUTH WITH HERBS AND SHALLOTS
I love Moules/Mussels, plus they are low in fat and high in minerals, making them very healthy! This is my own version of the Traditional French Moules Mariniere. The vermouth adds a complex and sweet taste to these mussels, and the tarragon compliments the vermouth perfectly. These mussels really are fragrant - the whole kitchen is perfumed with the sweet and aromatic smell whilst they are steaming! Serve with good bread and frites (French fries) for a delicious main meal or luncheon dish.
Provided by French Tart
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 15m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Melt the butter with the olive oil in a very large saucepan (one that has a matching lid).
- Add the finely minced garlic and pink shallots and cook over a gentle heat until they are soft but not coloured, for about 5 minutes.
- Add the tarragon, parsley, salt and black pepper, sweat together for about 1 minute.
- Add the vermouth and wine and then tip in the cleaned mussels - give them a good stir and then put the lid on the saucepan and turn up the heat.
- Steam the mussels for about 2 to 8 minutes, this depends on the size of the mussels and if they are at room temperature or chilled; steam them until the shells have opened up.
- Serve the mussels in a large bowl with the cooking liquor poured over the top, and discard any mussels that have not opened up.
- Allow 500g per person for a main meal, with bread and frites.
- Make sure there is a bowl on the table to collect the empty mussel shells, plus plenty of napkins!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 623.3, Fat 20.4, SaturatedFat 6.3, Cholesterol 155.2, Sodium 1489.4, Carbohydrate 24.2, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 1.2, Protein 60.2
MUSSELS AND CLAMS WITH VERMOUTH, CANNELLINI BEANS, AND CAVOLO NERO
Steps:
- Blanch the cavolo nero in heavily salted boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain, let cool, and squeeze out the excess water with your hands. Cut the greens into 1-inch ribbons.
- Heat a very large sauté pan over high heat for 2 minutes. Pour in the 1/2 cup olive oil and wait a minute. Add the onion, fennel, garlic, crumbled chiles, rosemary, and thyme to the pan. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and lots of pepper. Cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes, until the onion starts to wilt. Add the greens, and stir them to coat with the oil and onions. Cook about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are translucent and tender and the greens start to break down.
- Drain the beans and reserve the liquid. Add the beans to the vegetables, and cook a minute or two. Turn the heat up to high and add the clams. Cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add the mussels, and stir well to combine. Pour in the vermouth and cover the pan. Let the shellfish steam a few minutes, until they open. Remove the lid and add 1 cup of the bean-cooking liquid. If the dish doesn't seem brothy enough, add a little more. Bring to a boil, stirring well to combine the flavors, and swirl in the butter. Taste for seasoning.
- Serve in a large shallow bowl with a large serving spoon. Pass the super-good extra-virgin olive oil and hunks of crusty bread at the table. Remember to provide small bowls for shells.
- Cannellini Beans
- Toast the fennel seeds in a small pan over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until they release their aroma and are golden brown. Pound the fennel seeds coarsely in a mortar.
- Heat a medium pot over high heat for 2 minutes. Pour in the olive oil, and add the rosemary sprig and the crumbled chile. Let them sizzle in the oil about 1 minute. Add the onion, thyme, and fennel seeds, and sauté about 2 minutes, until the onion is wilted.
- Add the beans to the pan and cook another minute, stirring to coat well. Cover with water by 3 inches, and bring to a boil over high heat. Turn the heat down to low, and place a paper towel over the beans to keep them underwater. Simmer, stirring once in a while. After 30 minutes, add the salt to the beans, and continue cooking at a low simmer until the beans are tender, about an hour. Remove the beans from the heat, and let them cool in their juices. As the beans cook, add water as necessary, but not too much. You want the bean liquid to be rich and a little starchy, because it will be an important part of the finished broth.
- Note
- I like to use a wide pan, ideally 14 inches across, as opposed to a deep pan for this dish. That way all of the shellfish get coated and cook evenly. With a deeper pot, it's difficult to stir, and inevitably some of the mussels and clams end up on the top, brothless and dried out. If you don't have a lid for that wide pan, use a piece of tinfoil or two to fake a lid for steaming. And if you don't have a really wide pan, use two of your widest pans and split the recipe between them.
- You can make the beans the day before.
Tips:
- Choose large, fresh mussels. Look for mussels that are tightly closed and have no cracks or chips in their shells.
- Soak the mussels in cold water for 30 minutes before cooking. This will help them to purge any sand or grit.
- Scrub the mussels with a brush to remove any dirt or debris.
- Use a large pot to cook the mussels. This will give them plenty of room to open up.
- Add a splash of white wine or vermouth to the pot. This will help to steam the mussels and add flavor.
- Cover the pot and cook the mussels over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, or until they are all open.
- Serve the mussels immediately with crusty bread or pasta.
Conclusion:
Moules marinières is a classic French dish that is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. It is also a great way to impress guests at a dinner party. The mussels are steamed in a flavorful broth of white wine, garlic, shallots, and herbs. The result is a delicious and elegant dish that is sure to please everyone at the table.
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