Louisiana Mussel Sauce Piquante With Garlic Bread Recipes

LOUISIANA MUSSEL "SAUCE PIQUANTE" WITH GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Scrub mussels well and remove beards. Finely chop onion, celery, and bell pepper. In a 6- to 8-quart heavy kettle melt butter over moderately low heat and stir in flour. Cook roux, stirring constantly, until color of peanut butter, about 6 minutes. Stir in vegetables and cook, covered, until soft. Stir in tomato paste, broth, tomatoes with juice, and cayenne and bring mixture to a boil, breaking up tomatoes. Simmer sauce, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes, or until thickened.
• While sauce is simmering, make garlic bread:
• Preheat broiler.
• Mince garlic and mash to a paste with a pinch salt. In a small saucepan melt butter over moderate heat and stir in garlic paste. Halve bread horizontally and brush garlic butter on cut sides. On a baking sheet broil bread about 4 inches from heat until golden, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir mussels into sauce and simmer, covered, 4 to 8 minutes, or until mussels are opened. (Discard any unopened mussels after 8 minutes.) Divide mussels between 2 bowls.
• Season sauce with salt and ladle over mussels. Serve bread on the side.

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH CRUSTY BREAD

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large high-sided Dutch oven over medium heat until it begins to shimmer. Sweat the shallots and garlic by cooking for about 30 seconds. Add the mussels and wine; stir to combine.
• Cover and cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until some of the mussels start to open, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with the parsley and red chile flakes. Add the butter, cover and cook until all the mussels have opened and the flavors have infused, 1 to 2 more minutes.
• Transfer the mussels to a large serving dish, discarding any that didn't open. Ladle the broth over the mussels and serve with chunks of the torn baguette.