Barcelona Mussels Recipes

OVEN-STEAMED MUSSELS WITH GARLIC AND WHITE WINE

Steps:

• Set an oven rack in the lowest position and preheat the oven to 500°F.
• Set a large roasting pan on the stovetop over medium heat. Add the oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds. Do not brown. Add the wine, thyme, and bay leaves and boil until slightly reduced, about 1 minute.
• Stir in the salt and mussels. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil (remember the edges of the pan will be hot) and transfer to the oven. Roast until the majority of the mussels have opened, about 15 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven, and place a dishtowel over the handle to remind yourself that it's hot. Discard any unopened mussels. Using a wooden spoon, push the mussels to the edges of the pan. Add the butter to the center and stir until melted. Discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaves and stir in the parsley. Spoon the mussels and wine broth into bowls and serve with bread.
• Note: When a recipe calls for dry white wine, the best options are Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or unoaked Chardonnay. Select a bottle that is inexpensive but still good enough to drink.
• Note: Most markets sell farm-raised mussels, which are easy to clean - in fact, they are usually already scrubbed and debearded. However, it's still a good idea to clean them prior to cooking. Simply put them in a colander and run them under cold running water, using your hands or a scrubbing brush to remove any sand or debris. If beards (the little tuft of fibers the mussel uses to connect to rocks or pilings) are present, cut or scrape them off with a paring knife, or use your fingers to pull them sharply down toward the hinged point of the shells. The mussels should be tightly closed. If you see a mussel that is open, tap it gently against the counter; in a live mussel, this will trigger a reaction to close its shell. If the mussel doesn't slowly close, it has died and should be discarded. Discard any mussels with cracked shells as well.

BARCELONA MUSSELS RECIPE

Steps:

• Put a skillet that is big enough to handle the mussels on at medium heat. Swirl in enough extra virgin olive oil to cover all of the bottom. Add the chopped onion and stir to get it spread out and stir it a few more times as it cooks. When the onion has become translucent - about 5 minutes - add the chopped garlic and cook for just a minute or so. Don't let the garlic get brown. Then the tomatoes, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes, paprika and red wine (or white wine or chicken broth). Mix it all together, turn the heat up to medium high and bring it up to a simmer,.
• When the the liquids have reduced a little put in the mussels. Stir everything together and stir again a few times as the mussels heat up - about 6-8 minutes. If you are using fresh mussels just cook them until they open up and throw away any that don't open.
• In Spain it is almost always served with rice and sometimes with pasta. The Italian in me kicked in and I opted for some pasta with mine and some spinach and tomato salad with feta cheese and a little loaf of Poppop's easy homemade bread for dipping and some Spanish Tempranillo red wine.