Mussel Soup Recipes

CREAM OF MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• Tap mussels; discard any that do not close. Set aside. In a stockpot, combine the onions, celery, water, wine or broth, clam juice, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper. , Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; add mussels. Cover and simmer until mussels have opened, 5-6 minutes. Remove mussels with a slotted spoon, discarding any unopened mussels; set aside opened mussels and keep warm., Cool cooking liquid slightly. In a blender, cover and process cooking liquid in batches until blended. Return all to pan. Add cream and reserved mussels; heat through (do not boil).

MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• Put the mussels, wine and shallots in a saucepan and turn the heat to high. Cover and cook, shaking occasionally, just until the mussels open, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the mussels with a slotted spoon and strain the broth; set aside.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook until fragrant and softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and crumble the saffron into the saucepan. Pour in the reserved mussel broth, cayenne and enough water to make 5 cups of soup.
• Add the cream, if you are using it. Bring to just a boil, then turn off the heat and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Arrange mussels in soup bowls and pour the hot broth over them.
• Garnish with basil and chervil if desired.

TOMATO MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large enameled casserole. Add onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Cover and simmer, stirring on occasion, for 10 minutes or until really tender. Add the white wine and reduce by half. Add the tomatoes and their juices and simmer for 20 minutes to mellow the flavor. Add the mussels, cover the casserole and cook over high heat until they open. Discard unopened mussels. Spoon mussels and their liquid in deep bowls and garnish with basil. Could also serve over pasta or rice or with a potato salad.

MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• Clean the mussels by thoroughly scrubbing them under plenty of running water, pulling away and discarding the 'beards', the seaweed-like stringy threads. Discard any broken mussels, and any mussels that don't close tightly when you tap them.
• Place the mussels in a saucepan, add the white wine and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Drain, reserving the cooking liquor, and pick the mussels from their shells. Set aside the liquor and the mussels, but discard the shells.
• Heat a large frying pan and add the oil. Add the finely chopped shallot, garlic and fennel and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the saffron, aniseed liqueur, stock, three-quarters of the mussel meat, finish with the cream
• Cook for a further 3-4 minutes until warmed through, then blend with a stick blender until smooth.
• Heat a large griddle pan and drizzle the sliced bread with oil and rub with the halved clove of garlic. Toast the bread on the griddle for 2-3 minutes.

MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a medium pot, combine the mussels, wine, water, lemon juice, bay leaf, and crab boil, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until the mussels have opened, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and discard any unopened mussels. Strain the cooking liquid through a strainer lined with cheesecloth into a clean container. Remove the mussels from the shells and set aside. Discard the shells.
• In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium heat until just golden and starting to crisp, about 3 minutes. Add the onions and leeks, and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the bay leaves and thyme, and stir well. Add the strained mussel cooking liquid, the potatoes, milk, and cream and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Add the cooked mussels and simmer until warmed through. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
• Meanwhile, place the bread slices on a baking sheet and rub on both sides with the garlic cloves. Bake until light golden brown, turning once, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with the parsley, and serve with the garlic croutons.

MUSSEL SOUP BILLY-BI

Steps:

• Discard any mussels that have opened. Scrape off barnacles and scrub mussels with a stiff brush under running water; drain.
• In a 4 to 5-quart kettle over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the paprika and shallots and cook, stirring, until soft but not brown. Add the mussels in shells, parsley, peppercorns, and wine. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer until the mussels open (about 6 to 8 minutes). Discard any mussels that remain closed.
• Remove the mussels from the liquid. Strain the liquid through a dampened cloth and measure it. Add fish broth to make 4 cups. Return liquid to the kettle (rinsed to remove any sand).
• Remove the mussels from the shells, discarding the shells. Pinch out and discard any "beards" from the mussels.
• To the liquid, add the cream. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat slightly, and boil until the soup is reduced by about one-fourth. Lower heat to medium. Taste and add salt, if needed. Add the mussels and cook until just heated through. Serve hot or chilled, garnished with parsley.

BROTHY MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in large saucepan.
• Add chopped onion, and garlic and cook until clear.
• Add parsley and chilli and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Increase heat and add lemon juice, wine and water and bring to the boil.
• Add tomatoes.
• Bring to boil.
• Add cleaned mussels and cook covered over a moderate heat for about 5 minutes.
• Discard any mussels that have not opened.
• Remove the top shell from each mussel.
• Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

CREAMY MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• Scrub mussels and remove hairy beards from them. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a fry pan, add onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft. In a small pan cook bacon until browned then drain on absorbent paper.
• In a large saucepan add enough water that will cover mussels and bring water to boil. Add mussels to pan, cover and cook for a few minutes or until mussels open. drain and discard any mussels that do not open. (I cook mussels in a separate pan so that any sand or grit that has not been washed off does not end up in my soup). Remove shells completely from some of the mussels, remove half the shell from others and leave some complete. This is for presentation and ease of eating.
• Wash saucepan and return to medium heat combine wine, lemon juice, water, both stocks, and onion garlic mixture, bring liquid to boil then reduce heat to a simmer, add cream and bacon. Remove pan from heat. In a bowl lightly beat egg yolks and add a few tablespoons of soup mixture to egg and mix, then add to soup, return pan to a low heat add mussels and basil and stir until heated through.
• Serve with a mixture of soft cut french loaf and fried french loaf.
• For fried.
• Cut a french loaf into slices, crush a couple of cloves of garlic and mix with butter. Spread garlic butter on both sides of bread and fry until golden brown on both sides.