Sauteed Mussels Recipes

MUSSELS IN SPICY RED SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper, and saute until fragrant, stirring, about 30 seconds. Add the white wine and tomato sauce, increase the heat to high, cover and bring to a boil.
• Add the mussels and replace the lid. Cook over high heat 3 minutes. Remove the lid and stir once gently. Continue to cook until the mussels are completely open and firmly cooked, about 4 minutes more.
• Remove the pot from the heat and transfer the mussels gently from the pot to a large bowl with a Chinese wire mesh skimmer. Return the pot to the heat and increase the heat to high. Boil for a minute or 2, until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon. Pour the sauce over the mussels and serve immediately.
• Place the canned tomatoes in a large bowl and place your (clean) hands in the bowl and crush the tomatoes so they breakup into a range of small pieces.
• In a 5-quart Dutch oven heat the olive oil over medium heat until it is fragrant, but before it smokes, about 40 seconds. Add the bay leaves and stir them in the oil until they begin to brown, about 10 seconds. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute until it starts to turn golden brown, then add the onions, carrots, and oregano. Cook the vegetables until they are very brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally, just enough to prevent them from scorching.
• Add the crushed tomatoes with their juice, the tomato paste, salt and pepper, and 1 1/2 cups of water, (white wine or clam juice can be added depending on the intended use) and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, and simmer, partially covered until the sauce level has reduced by 2 or 3 inches and the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Cook the sauce for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally so it doesn't stick.
• Remove from heat, cool down in the pot, then when at room temperature, transfer to a sealed plastic container and refrigerate until ready to use.
• This sauce will keep 10 days in a well-sealed container in the refrigerator.
• Using my recipe for basic Red Sauce, you can make a quick and spicy "fra diavolo" sauce that is delicious drizzled over grilled squid and other seafood. For equipment you will need a 3-quart saucepan and a wooden spoon.
• Heat the olive oil in a 3-quart saucepan slightly over medium heat and saute the garlic and crushed red pepper until the garlic is fragrant and beginning to brown, about 40 seconds.
• Add the Red Sauce, clam juice, and salt, to taste, and simmer, stirring occasionally over medium-low heat, until the sauce returns to the thickness and quantity of the Red Sauce, about 15 minutes.

MUSSELS IN WHITE WINE AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Rinse and scrub mussels under cold running water. Using your fingers or a paring knife, remove beards (strings that hang from the mussels' shells), and discard.
• In a large stockpot set over medium heat, combine wine, shallots, garlic, and salt. Simmer 5 minutes. Add mussels.
• Cover, and increase heat to high. Cook until all mussels are open, about 5 minutes. Stir in herbs and butter. Remove from heat. Divide mussels and broth among four bowls. Serve immediately.

SAUTEED MUSSELS (MEJILLONES SALTEADOS)

Steps:

• Place the mussels in a skillet with the water and the lemon slice.
• Bring to a boil and remove the mussels as they open; do not overcook.
• Discard the shells and drain the mussel meat on paper towels.
• Heat the oil in a medium skillet; stir fry the mussels for a minute and remove.
• Add the onion and garlic; saute slowly, covered, for about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat; stir in the parsley, paprika, and chile pepper.
• Return the skillet to the heat and add the mussels (with their accumulated juices).
• Give the mussels a turn in the sauce just to heat them, remove from heat, cover, and let sit for a minute or two before serving.
• The mussels are also good at room temperature.

SAUTEED MUSSELS

Steps:

• Heat a medium to large skillet over medium heat. Add the mussels to the dry heated skillet, and then immediately add all of the remaining ingredients. Toss the mussels with a wooden spoon while they are cooking. The mussels are ready when they have all opened, and the butter has melted.
• Mince the saffron and add it to a dry stockpot. Carefully toast the saffron in the pot over low heat until it is heated through but has not changed color. Add the wine and fish stock, and raise heat to medium-high. Let cook until the liquid has reduced by 3/4, adjusting the heat as necessary. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

SAUTEED MUSSELS

Steps:

• Heat a medium to large skillet over medium heat. Add the mussels to the dry heated skillet, and then immediately add all of the remaining ingredients. Toss the mussels with a wooden spoon while they are cooking. The mussels are ready when they have all opened, and the butter has melted.
• Mince the saffron and add it to a dry stockpot. Carefully toast the saffron in the pot over low heat until it is heated through but has not changed color. Add the wine and fish stock, and raise heat to medium-high. Let cook until the liquid has reduced by 3/4, adjusting the heat as necessary. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

SAUTEED MUSSELS WITH BEER AND LEMONGRASS

Steps:

• Put the olive oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Once the oil is hot add the mussels and cook for 1 minute.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the bell pepper, garlic, lemongrass and shallots. Stir for 1 minute and then add the beer, cream, peas, basil, lemon juice, crab base and hot sauce. Continue to stir until the mussels are completely open, then let simmer until the sauce is reduced by a quarter, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with crusty French bread, if desired.