Mussels, the delectable bivalves found in coastal waters around the globe, stand as a culinary canvas waiting to be transformed into a symphony of flavors. Whether steamed, grilled, or sautéed, these treasures of the sea beckon the home chef to explore their versatile nature. From simple preparations that highlight their briny essence to elaborate creations that blend land and sea, mussels offer an endless source of culinary inspiration. Let us embark on an exploration of the best recipes for cooking mussels, unraveling the secrets to unlocking their full potential and captivating the taste buds of seafood enthusiasts.
Here are our top 20 tried and tested recipes!
MUSSELS IN WHITE WINE
Simmer Ina Garten's recipe for Mussels in White Wine on the stovetop with garlic, saffron and plum tomatoes for an easy yet elegant meal.
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- To clean the mussels, put them in a large bowl with 2 quarts of water and the flour and soak for 30 minutes, or until the mussels disgorge any sand. Drain the mussels, then remove the "beard" from each with your fingers. If they're dirty, scrub the mussels with a brush under running water. Discard any mussels whose shells aren't tightly shut.
- In a large non-aluminum stockpot, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook for 5 minutes; then add the garlic and cook for 3 more minutes, or until the shallots are translucent. Add the tomatoes, saffron, parsley, thyme, wine, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
- Add the mussels, stir well, then cover the pot, and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until all the mussels are opened (discard any that do not open). With the lid on, shake the pot once or twice to be sure the mussels don't burn on the bottom. Pour the mussels and the sauce into a large bowl and serve hot.
MUSSELS IN WHITE WINE AND GARLIC
Make and share this Mussels in White Wine and Garlic recipe from Food.com.
Provided by kyle martin
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 25m
Yield 4 bowls, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Rinse and scrub mussels under cold water.
- Using your fingers or paring knife, remove beards (strings that hang from the mussel shells), and discard.
- In a large stockpot set over medium heat, combine wine, shallots, garlic, and salt.
- Simmer 5 minutes.
- Add mussels, cover, and increase heat to high.
- Cook until all mussels are open, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in herbs and butter.
- Remove from heat.
- Divide mussels and broth among four bowls.
- Serve immediately.
MUSSELS IN WHITE WINE AND GARLIC
Be sure to buy live mussels. Any open mussels that do not close when you press their shells a few times are dead, and you should discard them.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Rinse and scrub mussels under cold running water. Using your fingers or a paring knife, remove beards (strings that hang from the mussels' shells), and discard.
- In a large stockpot set over medium heat, combine wine, shallots, garlic, and salt. Simmer 5 minutes. Add mussels.
- Cover, and increase heat to high. Cook until all mussels are open, about 5 minutes. Stir in herbs and butter. Remove from heat. Divide mussels and broth among four bowls. Serve immediately.
MUSSELS, CLAMS AND SHRIMP IN SPICY BROTH
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and crushed red pepper. Saute until the garlic is tender, about 1 minute. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Add the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Simmer until the tomatoes begin to break down and the flavors blend, about 5 minutes. Stir in the clams. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the mussels. Cover and cook until the clams and mussels open, about 5 minutes longer.
- Using a tongs, transfer the opened shellfish to serving bowls (discard any shellfish that do not open). Add the shrimp and basil to the simmering tomato broth. Simmer until the shrimp are just cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes. Divide the shrimp and tomato broth among the bowls. Serve with the warm bread.
THAI STEAMED MUSSELS
Delicious and easy spicy Thai steamed mussels that can be finished in just thirty minutes.
Provided by MURINMOON
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Thai
Time 30m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large stock pot, combine the lime juice, coconut milk, wine, curry paste, garlic, fish sauce and sugar. Stir to dissolve sugar and curry paste and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 2 minutes then add mussels. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until mussels are opened, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and discard any unopened mussels. Pour mussels and liquid into a serving dish and toss with cilantro.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 484.5 calories, Carbohydrate 21.4 g, Cholesterol 105.9 mg, Fat 24.4 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 48.3 g, SaturatedFat 13.9 g, Sodium 1353.1 mg, Sugar 2.7 g
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
CLASSIC FRENCH MUSSELS
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the mussels, wine, cream, butter, and parsley and season well with salt. Give it a good stir, cover the pot, and cook until mussels open and are cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes. Divide the mussels and the juices between 2 bowls and serve with the crusty bread.
DRUNKEN MUSSELS
This seriously delicious drunken mussels recipe is one of the quickest shellfish preparations known to man. Bring a flavorful, wine-based broth to a boil, add mussels and cover; cook until they open, and eat. That's it!
Provided by Chef John
Categories Seafood Shellfish Mussels
Time 20m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Melt butter in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add garlic and let sizzle for about 30 seconds. Season with red pepper flakes and lemon zest, stirring for about 45 seconds.
- Quickly pour in wine into the pan and season with black pepper. Bring sauce to a boil, stir in mussels, and cover immediately. Shake pot and let boil for 1 minute.
- Stir mussels, replace cover, and let boil for 2 more minutes. The shells will begin to open. Stir in parsley, cover pot, and cook until all shells are open, 1 to 3 minutes.
- Serve with grilled bread and lemon wedge.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 552.7 calories, Carbohydrate 40.5 g, Cholesterol 91.2 mg, Fat 14.8 g, Fiber 7.4 g, Protein 28.1 g, SaturatedFat 7.8 g, Sodium 620.1 mg, Sugar 6.2 g
MUSSELS IN CURRY CREAM SAUCE
Mussels steamed in a curry cream sauce, an easy and delicious recipe, you'll love it!
Provided by Kerry
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Pasta Sauce Recipes Creamy
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, cook shallots and garlic in simmering wine until translucent.
- Stir in cream and curry powder. When sauce is heated through, add mussels. Cover, and steam mussels for a few minutes, until their shells open wide. With a slotted spoon, transfer steamed mussels to a bowl, leaving the sauce in the pan. Discard any unopened mussels.
- Whisk butter into the cream sauce. Turn heat off, and stir in parsley and green onions. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 445.5 calories, Carbohydrate 10.7 g, Cholesterol 127.6 mg, Fat 35.5 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 6.4 g, SaturatedFat 22 g, Sodium 172.3 mg, Sugar 2.2 g
MUSSELS MARINIERE
Steps:
- Scrub mussels. Pull off beards, the tuft of fibers that attach each mussel to it's shell, cutting them at the base with a paring knife. Discard those that do not close when you handle them and any with broken shells. Set aside.
- Combine onion, garlic, 4 tablespoons parsley, bay leaf, thyme, wine, and 2 tablespoons butter in large pot. Bring to boil. Lower heat, and cook 2 minutes. Add mussels, and cover. Cook just until shells open, 3 to 4 minutes. Do not overcook. Remove mussels from sauce, and place in bowls.
- Strain liquid, and return to pot. Add remaining butter and parsley. Heat until butter melts. Pour over mussels.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 297.7 calories, Carbohydrate 10.3 g, Cholesterol 69.6 mg, Fat 10.1 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 18.6 g, SaturatedFat 5.6 g, Sodium 329.6 mg, Sugar 4.2 g
SPICY LINGUINE WITH CLAMS AND MUSSELS
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Time 35m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the butter and parsley and toss until coated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Sauce: In a large skillet or saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until aromatic. Add the wine and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Stir in the broth, red pepper flakes, clams and mussels. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and cook until all the shellfish have opened, about 5 to 8 minutes. Discard any unopened shellfish.
- Using tongs, remove the shellfish from the pan and reserve. Season the cooking liquid with 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Pour the shellfish cooking liquid over the pasta and toss well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Arrange the reserved shellfish on top of the pasta and serve.
MUSSELS WITH GARLIC BUTTER
For Mussels, Garlic butter is a perfect partner for the shellfish in this easy starter. Pass a basket of soda bread to mop all the juices.
Categories Dairy Garlic Shellfish Appetizer Sauté Quick & Easy Low/No Sugar Wheat/Gluten-Free Mussel Bon Appétit Sugar Conscious Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added
Yield Serves 6
Number Of Ingredients 7
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.
STEAMED MUSSELS
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Sweat the shallots until translucent and without any color, 1 to 2 minutes, and then add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Pour in the wine and bring to a simmer before adding the mussels. Cover tightly with a lid and steam until the mussels open, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the mussels from the pot to avoid over-cooking, and discard any that do not open. Serve alongside the cooking liquid.
STEAMED MUSSELS
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Rinse the mussels under cold running water while scrubbing with a vegetable brush. Discard any with broken shells. Heat oil in a 6 to 8-quart stockpot. Saute the shallot, garlic and thyme to create a base flavor. Add the mussels and give them a good toss. Add wine, lemon juice, chicken broth and red pepper flakes; cover the pot and steam over medium-high for 5 minutes until the mussels open. Toss in the tomato, parsley and butter, recover the pot, and steam for another minute to soften. The tomatoes should keep their shape. Serve with plenty of grilled garlic bread to sop up the broth.
SPICY COCONUT MUSSELS WITH LEMONGRASS
Mussels are cheap, delicious and relatively fun to eat: saline, mild and plump little bites. They are also extremely easy to cook, especially if they've been farmed (most mussels you find in markets have been). Just give them a good rinse, and they are ready to go. Here the treatment heads in the general direction of Thailand, offering a sauce of coconut milk, lemongrass, garlic and chiles that perfectly frames the sweetness of the meat.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, weekday, main course
Time 20m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat the oil in the bottom of a large pot until hot. Add the shallot, garlic, lemongrass and chile. Cook over medium heat until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the coconut milk and mussels. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook until the mussels have opened, 5 to 7 minutes (discard any mussels that remained closed). Remove from heat, and use a slotted spoon to transfer the mussels to a large bowl, leaving the liquid in the pot. Stir the lemon zest and juice, fish sauce and cilantro into the pot. Taste and add more fish sauce and/or lemon juice if needed (fish sauce provides the salt).
- As the mussels cook, heat the broiler. Place the croissants, cut side up, on a small baking sheet. Run under the broiler until just golden. Put the mussels in two wide, shallow bowls. Ladle the broth over them and serve with the croissants.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 869, UnsaturatedFat 20 grams, Carbohydrate 42 grams, Fat 53 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 60 grams, SaturatedFat 27 grams, Sodium 1536 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams
EASY "6" INGREDIENT STEAMED MUSSELS IN BEER
Now this also works with clams as well, but my favorite is mussels. This is so easy and quick to make. It is a wonderful starter dish or even a main course. Just make sure to have some crusty bread to go with it. My favorite is slice your baguette in half and drizzle with olive oil and toast. Rub it with fresh garlic and a slice of tomato for a wonderful fresh flavor. Just a Note: I didn't count the olive oil to saute the vegetables in or the salt and pepper in the six ingredients. It is still very very easy and absolutely delicious. These amounts work good for 1-1 1/2 lbs. Just double each of the ingredients if you are using more mussels.
Provided by SarasotaCook
Categories Mussels
Time 20m
Yield 4-6 Servings as an appetizer, 2-3 as a main couse, 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Base -- In a medium wide saute pan, add the olive oil and bring to medium high heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute a couple of minutes.
- If you like a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes, this is completely optional.
- Mussels -- One NOTE: Very important. Rinse the mussels well in cold water in a collander. Make sure that any opened mussels you tap a couple of times and if they do not close, they are BAD (dead) and make sure to toss those out.
- Add the beer and mussels to the pan and reduce the heat to medium and cover. Simmer approximately 5-7 minutes until the mussels begin to open. Turn the heat off and add the butter and parsley and stir well. Don't over cook the mussels. You just want to make sure they all open well.
- Serve -- As I mentioned - crusty bread. I like to drizzle with olive oil and toast, then rub with a garlic clove and a tomato. Just cut a tomato in half and rub over the bread. It has amazing flavor. The broth and onions in the broth are a great topping to the bread with. ENJOY! This very simple easy dish.
MUSSELS PASTA
This is a great pasta recipe with mussels. You can use all mussels or half mussels and half clams. Use as little or as much chile as you can stand.
Provided by mannkochtgut
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomato sauce, season with salt, and simmer over low heat until thickened, about 15 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet and cook peeled garlic for 1 minute. Add mussels and cook until they open, about 8 minutes. Transfer mussels to a bowl. Pour in white wine and allow to evaporate. Remove garlic, but save cooking liquid.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a separate skillet and cook clams until they open, about 8 minutes. Remove 1/2 of the mussels and 1/2 of the clams from their shells. Discard any unopened shells. Add all mussels and clams, with and without shells, and cooking liquid to the tomato sauce. Season with red pepper flakes and simmer for a few minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain and add spaghetti to tomato sauce. Mix in parsley and season with salt and pepper. Serve with Parmesan on the side.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 282.7 calories, Carbohydrate 11.4 g, Cholesterol 55.2 mg, Fat 14.6 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 23.6 g, SaturatedFat 2.8 g, Sodium 658.1 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
STEAMED MUSSELS WITH FENNEL, TOMATOES, OUZO, AND CREAM
Pick good fresh and alive mussels for this dish, preferably Penn Cove. The fresher the better. This recipe is simply amazing in flavor. You will love it. Serve with a slice of bread.
Provided by DJFoodie
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 339.1 calories, Carbohydrate 21.2 g, Cholesterol 76.3 mg, Fat 15.7 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 16.3 g, SaturatedFat 7.4 g, Sodium 245.3 mg, Sugar 9.3 g
MUSSELS MARINARA DI AMORE
Mussels and linguine in a spicy tomato broth are very flavorful. To provide the correct ambiance, serve by candlelight with a crusty French bread and a bottle of wine.
Provided by donnamaria
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 20m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, warm oil and saute garlic until transparent.
- Add tomatoes, oregano, basil and red pepper flakes to skillet; reduce heat to low to simmer for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and reserve.
- Add wine and mussels to skillet; cover and increase heat to high for 3 to 5 minutes or until mussel shells are open.
- Pour over hot pasta, sprinkle with parsley and squeeze lemon wedge over all. Garnish with remaining lemon and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 303.8 calories, Carbohydrate 52.8 g, Cholesterol 8.9 mg, Fat 5.4 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 13 g, SaturatedFat 0.8 g, Sodium 187.8 mg, Sugar 2.4 g
STEAMED MUSSELS WITH WINE AND SAFFRON
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Seafood Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Holding mussels under cool running water, scrub with a stiff sponge or vegetable brush, then debeard: grip the tough fibers extending from the shell and pull to remove. Discard beards.
- Steep saffron in wine for 10 minutes. (Saffron is soluble in water, not fat, so it won't release its color or flavor if added directly to the butter.) Meanwhile, melt butter over medium-high heat in a shallow stockpot. Once it's foamy, add shallots, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until shallots are transparent and garlic is soft, about 3 minutes, stirring every so often to keep garlic from scorching. Pour in wine and saffron, then add tomatoes and return to a simmer, stirring once or twice.
- Add mussels and cover tightly. Cook until all mussels open, about 6 minutes, stirring once about halfway through. Discard any unopened mussels. If using wild mussels, strain broth through a cheesecloth-lined sieve to remove any sand, if necessary. Taste the broth and season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle with parsley before ladling mussels and broth into bowls.
Tips:
- Select the freshest mussels possible: Look for mussels with tightly closed shells and no cracks or damage. Avoid any mussels that are open or have a foul odor.
- Clean the mussels thoroughly before cooking: Use a stiff brush to remove any dirt or debris from the shells. Rinse the mussels under cold water and remove the beards (the small, fibrous strands that protrude from the shells).
- Use a variety of cooking methods: Mussels can be steamed, boiled, baked, grilled, or fried. Each method produces a different flavor and texture, so experiment until you find your favorite way to cook mussels.
- Don't overcook the mussels: Mussels cook quickly, so it's important not to overcook them. Overcooked mussels become tough and rubbery.
- Pair mussels with a variety of flavors: Mussels go well with a variety of flavors, including garlic, butter, white wine, lemon, herbs, and spices. Experiment until you find your favorite flavor combinations.
Conclusion:
Mussels are a delicious and versatile seafood that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether you're steaming them, boiling them, baking them, grilling them, or frying them, there's a mussel recipe out there for everyone. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy seafood meal, give mussels a try. You won't be disappointed!
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