Chilled Mussels With Saffron Mayo Recipes

MUSSELS WITH SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• For the mayonnaise, soak the saffron in 1 tablespoon of hot water in a small bowl for 5 minutes. Whisk in the mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the mussels, combine the fleur de sel and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside. Heat a large, dry (12-inch) cast iron skillet over high heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until very hot. Add the mussels in a single layer and cook them for one minute, until they start to open. Add the wine and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mussels are fully opened and just cooked. (Discard any that don't open.) Off the heat, sprinkle the mussels generously with the salt and pepper mixture. Serve hot from the skillet with individual bowls of saffron mayonnaise for dipping.

CHILLI MUSSELS RECIPE

Steps:

• Soak mussels in cold salt water (3 cups + ¼ cup salt) for about 15 minutes. Discard open mussels, scrub the shells, de-beard, and rinse until the water runs clear.
• In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook shallots and red chili peppers for 30 seconds. Cook garlic, for 30 seconds, cook tomato paste and sugar for 1 minute. Cook dried basil and thyme for 1 minute. Keep stirring.
• Add diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until slightly thickened.
• Increase the heat to high. Add dry white wine, butter, saffron, and the cleaned mussels into the pot. Cover the pan, cook for about 6 minutes or until the mussels have opened.

COLD CREAM OF MUSSEL SOUP WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, onions and garlic. Stir for about two minutes. Add the flour and saffron. Blend with a wire whisk and cook for one minute. Blend in the white wine and Tabasco sauce, then add the mussels and parsley. Blend well. Cover and cook until the mussels have opened, about five minutes.
• Add the cream and half-and-half and bring just to a boil. Strain through a fine sieve.
• Remove the mussels from the shells and discard the shells. Add the mussels to the strained soup and chill in the refrigerator.
• When ready to serve, add the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve in chilled soup bowls or cups with chervil or parsley sprinkled on top.

ITALIAN SEAFOOD SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together lemon zest, juice, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and garlic. Whisk in oil and chopped parsley.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot, bring 4 quarts water, 6 tablespoons sugar, and 1/4 cup salt to a boil. Add squid and blanch until just tender, 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon or a spider, transfer squid to an ice bath to stop cooking. Once cool, drain squid and lay on paper towels to dry; transfer to bowl with dressing.
• Return water to a boil. Add shrimp, stir once, cover, and remove from heat. Let stand 3 minutes; using a slotted spoon, remove to a plate to cool slightly; pat dry and transfer to bowl with squid. Return water to a boil and add mussels, reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer until mussels open, 3 to 5 minutes (discard any unopened mussels). Drain and transfer to a plate to cool. Remove all but 10 mussels from their shells and add to bowl with seafood. Reserve mussels in shell for serving.
• Toss dressed seafood with fennel, bell pepper, celery, crab, and parsley leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, with reserved mussels and lemon wedges, or store, covered, in the refrigerator, for up to 8 hours.

MUSSELS WITH SAFFRON SAUCE

Steps:

• Steam mussels in wine until shells open. When cool enough to handle, remove mussels from shells and place in bowl. Cover with 1 cup of cooking liquid. Reserve enough half shells for number of mussels you have and refrigerate in plastic bag.
• In small bowl, using a whisk, beat egg yolk with vinegar and mustard. Season with generous pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Secure bowl on towel, potholder or rubber mat so it does not slide and, beating continuously, dribble in oil in thin stream. Mixture will gradually thicken to mayonnaise. If you are reluctant to make mayonnaise by hand you can use food processer but ingredients must be doubled for it to work, yielding twice as much mayonnaise as needed for recipe. Alternately, you can use 3/4 of cup of commercial mayonnaise.
• To make saffron seasoning, bring to boil 1/2 cup of cooking liquid that mussels were sitting in and pour 1 1/2 tablespoons over saffron in small dish. Allow saffron to steep for 15 minutes, then strain hot liquid into mayonnaise and mix well.
• Drain mussels well and mix with saffron mayonnaise. Just before serving, spoon mussel with sauce onto each half shell. You should have enough mussels to serve about 8 to each guest.

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH WINE AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Holding mussels under cool running water, scrub with a stiff sponge or vegetable brush, then debeard: grip the tough fibers extending from the shell and pull to remove. Discard beards.
• Steep saffron in wine for 10 minutes. (Saffron is soluble in water, not fat, so it won't release its color or flavor if added directly to the butter.) Meanwhile, melt butter over medium-high heat in a shallow stockpot. Once it's foamy, add shallots, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until shallots are transparent and garlic is soft, about 3 minutes, stirring every so often to keep garlic from scorching. Pour in wine and saffron, then add tomatoes and return to a simmer, stirring once or twice.
• Add mussels and cover tightly. Cook until all mussels open, about 6 minutes, stirring once about halfway through. Discard any unopened mussels. If using wild mussels, strain broth through a cheesecloth-lined sieve to remove any sand, if necessary. Taste the broth and season with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle with parsley before ladling mussels and broth into bowls.