Moules En Sauce Recipes

THE BEST MOULES MARINIèRES (SAILOR-STYLE MUSSELS) RECIPE

Steps:

• In a medium Dutch oven or large saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-low heat. Add leeks, shallot, garlic, and bay leaves. Season lightly with salt and heavily with black pepper and cook, stirring, until vegetables are very soft but not browned, about 10 minutes.
• Increase heat to high and add cider or wine. Bring to a boil and let reduce by half, about 2 minutes. Add mussels, stir, cover, and cook, shaking pan constantly and peeking every 30 seconds to stir. As soon as all the mussels are open, transfer mussels to a bowl using tongs. Place pan lid over bowl to keep mussels warm.
• Remove from heat and whisk in remaining butter along with mayonnaise or crème fraîche (if using). Return mussels to pot, add parsley, lemon juice, and lemon zest, stir to combine, then transfer to a warm serving bowl. Serve immediately with additional mayonnaise (if using) and broiled bread.

MOULES MARINIèRES (FRENCH MUSSELS IN WHITE WINE SAUCE)

Steps:

• Clean and prep mussels: Put the mussels in a bowl of salted water (1 tablespoon salt per quart of water) for 10-15 minutes. Throw out any that are wide open or refuse to close when you handle them as these ones are likely dead. Looking over the closed mussels, see if any still have their beards (long hairy byssal threads which help anchor the mussel to surfaces) and pull them out, pulling slowly and strongly towards the hinge of the shell.
• Sauté shallots and garlic: Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan. Add the shallots and cook a couple minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and cook a minute more. If you want your sauce to be a little thick, add a teaspoon or two of flour to the pan, stir to combine. (Otherwise skip the flour.)

MOULES MARINIèRES

Steps:

• Scrub the mussels.
• In a large kettle, at least eight quarts, melt two tablespoons of the butter. Saute the shallots over low heat until they are soft but not brown. Add the wine and the mussels. Steam the mussels over medium heat until they open, about 15 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove about half the mussels from the pot and divide them among four heated bowls. Discard any mussels that do not open. Cover the bowls.
• Transfer the remaining mussels to a large bowl and cover it. Some of these mussels can be served as second helpings, but most will be reserved for later use.
• Taste the broth remaining in the pot. If it is too salty, dilute it with water. Add the rest of the butter and simmer until it has melted. Season with pepper. Spoon the hot broth over the mussels in each of the plates, taking care not to disturb any sediment that may have accumulated in the bottom of the pot.
• Sprinkle each serving with parsley and serve