A Chowder Of Mussels And Leeks Recipes

MUSSEL CHOWDER

Steps:

• Pour reserved mussel cooking liquid through a fine sieve lined with a dampened paper towel into a bowl. Set aside 24 mussels in their shells, then shuck remainder and halve them crosswise.
• Wash chopped leeks in a bowl of cold water, then lift out and drain well.
• Cook leeks, carrots, bell peppers, and shallot with salt and pepper in butter and oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook, uncovered, stirring, 1 minute. Add strained mussel cooking liquid and wine and simmer 10 minutes.
• Stir in halved mussels and cream and simmer, stirring, 5 minutes. Add reserved mussels in their shells and simmer until just heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

CURRIED MUSSELS WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the squash and leeks and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks start softening, about 3 minutes.
• Add the curry powder, ginger and lime zest and stir to coat. Reduce the heat to medium low and add 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook until the squash is almost tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the heavy cream to the pot, then stir in the mussels. Increase the heat to medium, cover and simmer until the mussels open, 5 to 6 minutes. (Discard any unopened mussels.) Stir in the lime juice and cilantro. Serve with the bread.

TOBY'S MUSSEL CHOWDER

Steps:

• Place wine, butter, garlic, and 1 tablespoon basil in a stockpot and brings to a simmer. Add mussels and steam, covered, over high heat, for 8 to 12 minutes. Check to see when shells begin to open, be careful not to overcook. When mussels open, remove them from the heat, and drain, reserving liquid. Set mussels aside to cool, discarding any unopened mussels. When cool, remove meat from shells, chop coarsely, and refrigerate until needed.
• In a stockpot, over medium-high heat, saute bacon until fat is rendered and bacon begins to brown. Add onions, celery and cook until onions turn translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add potatoes and thyme and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add stock or clam juice, reserved mussel liquid, remaining 1 tablespoon basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are soft and begin to thicken chowder. Add milk, chopped mussels and bring back to simmer. Reheat for 2 to 3 minutes. Check for seasoning. Serve with garlic bread.

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH LEEKS, GARLIC, THYME, WHITE WINE, AND BUTTER

Steps:

• Rinse the mussels under cold running water while scrubbing with a vegetable brush. Remove the stringy mussel beards with your thumb and index finger as you wash them. Discard any mussels with broken shells.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the leeks, garlic, and thyme and cook until the vegetables cook down to a pulp, about 5 minutes. Add the mussels and give everything a good toss. Add the white wine. Cover and steam over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, until the mussels open. Stir occasionally so that all the mussels are in contact with the heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and a drizzle of olive oil to the sauce remaining in the pot and swirl to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve immediately.

MUSSEL CHOWDER

Steps:

• Place 1 cup of wine, the water and the lemon juice in a large pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat, add the mussels, cover and steam, shaking the pot from time to time, until the mussels open, about 7 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Pull the mussels from the shells and refrigerate. Reserve the broth.
• Melt the butter in a large, wide pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots and potatoes and cook for 4 minutes longer. Add the mussel broth and the remaining wine and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Turn the heat to low and stir in the milk and cream. With the liquid barely at a simmer, cook for 30 minutes. Stir in the saffron and cook for 5 minutes longer. Add the mussels, salt and pepper and cook just until the mussels are warmed. Ladle into bowls and garnish with the basil. Serve immediately.

A CHOWDER OF MUSSELS AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Thinly slice the leeks and rinse them very thoroughly. No vegetable holds its grit like a leek. Cut the bacon into short, thin strips and put them into a deep, thick-bottomed pan with the butter. Let the bacon color lightly over medium heat. Decrease the heat, add the leeks, and cover with a lid. Let them cook for twenty minutes or so, with an occasional stir, until they are soft and sweet-they should not color. Remove from the heat.
• Check the mussels and pull away any beards. Discard any mussels that are broken, open, or exceptionally heavy. Put them in a large pot, pour in the vermouth, and cover tightly with a lid. Place over high heat until the mussels have opened (a matter of minutes), then remove each mussel from its shell.
• Peel the potatoes and cut them into large dice. Put them in a saucepan with 1 3/4 cups (400ml) of the mussel cooking liquor, drained through a sieve. Add the cream, bay, thyme, and a little black pepper (no salt). Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat so that the potatoes simmer gently for about ten minutes.
• Add three-quarters of the cooked potatoes to the leeks and bacon. Put the remainder in a blender with the cream (pick out the herbs first) and blitz briefly until smooth (too long and it will turn gummy). Pour into the pan and add the mussels and parsley. Bring all to a boil and serve.

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH LEEKS, THYME & BACON

Steps:

• Scrub and de-beard the mussels. Heat half the butter in a pan, then sizzle the bacon for 3-4 mins until starting to brown. Add the leeks and thyme, then sweat everything together for 4-5 mins until soft. Turn the heat up high, add the mussels and cider or wine, then cover and cook for 4-5 mins, shaking the pan occasionally, until the mussels have opened. Discard any that don't open. Scoop the mussels and the other bits into a dish, then place the pan back on the heat. Boil the juices for 1 min with the rest of the butter, then pour over the mussels and serve with crusty bread.

SMOKED HADDOCK & LEEK CHOWDER

Steps:

• Lay the haddock in a deep frying pan and pour over the milk. Cover and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and leave undisturbed for about 5 mins, until the haddock is just cooked. Lift the haddock from the milk, remove the skin and bones and fl ake onto a plate. Reserve the milk for later.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan (preferably non-stick) and gently fry the bacon until starting to brown. Add the celery, leeks, bay leaves and potatoes, and cook for a couple of mins. Pour in the stock and reserved milk. Bring to the simmer and cook for 10 mins.
• Add the flaked haddock, sweetcorn and cream. Season with pepper (it shouldn't need salt) and stir in the parsley. Heat through gently, then serve.

SIMPLE SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat, then add the onion and bacon. Cook for 8-10 mins until the onion is soft and the bacon is cooked. Stir in the flour, then cook for a further 2 mins.
• Pour in the fish stock and bring it up to a gentle simmer. Add the potatoes, cover, then simmer for 10-12 mins until the potatoes are cooked through.
• Add the mace, cayenne pepper and some seasoning, then stir in the milk.
• Tip the fish pie mix into the pan, gently simmer for 4 mins. Add the cream and shellfish, then simmer for 1 min more. Check the seasoning. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve with some crusty bread.

MUSSELS WITH LEEKS & SAFFRON

Steps:

• Wash the mussels in a sink of cold water, removing any little beards and scrubbing any barnacles. Tap each one on the side of the sink - if the mussel doesn't close tightly, discard it (also discard any with broken shells). Put the mussels in a colander (in batches) and rinse really well under cold running water.
• Heat the oil in a large pan (or two pans if you don't have one big enough to fit all the mussels). Sauté the leeks for 8-10 mins until softening, then add the garlic and cook for another few mins. Add the bouquet garni, pour over the sherry and wine, sprinkle over the saffron and bring to just under the boil. Stir to help the saffron flavour the wine.
• Turn the heat down to medium-low, then add the mussels and stir. Cover the pan and allow the mussels to cook until they open (this will take about 4 mins), shaking the pan a few times. Remove the bouquet garni. Add the cream, stir and heat through. Taste for seasoning (mussels are always pretty salty, so you shouldn't need to add anything). Scatter over the parsley, then transfer the mussels to a large, warm serving dish or serve them straight from the pan.