Creamy Mussel Chowder Recipes

MUSSEL CHOWDER

Steps:

• Pour reserved mussel cooking liquid through a fine sieve lined with a dampened paper towel into a bowl. Set aside 24 mussels in their shells, then shuck remainder and halve them crosswise.
• Wash chopped leeks in a bowl of cold water, then lift out and drain well.
• Cook leeks, carrots, bell peppers, and shallot with salt and pepper in butter and oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook, uncovered, stirring, 1 minute. Add strained mussel cooking liquid and wine and simmer 10 minutes.
• Stir in halved mussels and cream and simmer, stirring, 5 minutes. Add reserved mussels in their shells and simmer until just heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

POTATO MUSSEL CHOWDER

Steps:

• Wash and scrub mussels free of beards and dirt.
• Add mussels to large pot with white wine, garlic and thyme. Steam for 5-7 minutes or until all mussels are open.
• Strain mussels from pot saving every drop of the mussel broth.
• Shuck mussels from shell and keep chilled, discard any mussels that don't open.
• In a large heavy bottom pot, add pancetta and begin to cook over medium heat to release fat. 6. Add carrots, celery and onions to pot and sweat for 3-5 mins.
• Add potatoes and cook for additional 3 minutes.
• Add butter and melt completely.
• Add flour and mix to create a roux. Cook roux until it smells like toasted butter about 3-5 mins.
• Add the mussel broth and whisk to break up the roux.
• Add milk and cream and continue whisk over med heat to cook roux and remove any flour flavour.
• Reduce heat to low and cook for 30 mins to cook vegetables all the way through, stirring every few minutes to avoid scorching.
• When chowder has thickened add mussels and haddock into chowder
• Season to taste and finish with chopped chives and other greens. Enjoy!

CREAMY MUSSEL CHOWDER

Steps:

• Boil 2 cups of water in a large pot, then add a third of the washed mussels, cover and heat until shells open 5mm, then lift promptly, with tongs, into a large bowl. Repeat until all mussels have opened.
• Save the liquid.
• Cut onion(s) in 1cm cubes.
• Heat the oil in a covered non-stick pan, then add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned.
• Chop the carrot, celery and potato into similar sized cubes and add them to the pan.
• Strain the mussel cooking liquid into the pan of vegetables and simmer until vegetables are tender.
• Take the mussels from shells, discarding beards.
• Cut the mussels in 1cm cubes, saving any liquid, and put aside.
• Melt the butter in the cleaned mussel pot, then stir in the flour. Add the milk and bring to the boil, stirring or whisking constantly, then add the stock and boil again, still stirring.
• Take off the heat.
• Add the cooked vegetables and their cooking liquid and season carefully to taste.
• Cool, then refrigerate up to 24 hours if necessary.
• When ready to serve, heat, stirring constantly, until very hot.
• Add two thirds of the mussels and any liquid, then pour into large bowls. Top with remaining mussels and chopped parsley or dill if desired and serve with hot rolls, garlic bread, crackers or toast.

LIGHTLY CURRIED MUSSEL CHOWDER

Steps:

• Clean and debeard the mussels. Stem them open. Strain the broth; you should have 4 cups of broth (and 1 pound of mussel meat). Cover the shelled mussels and keep refrigerated until ready to use.
• Heat a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over low heat and add the diced salt pork. Once it has rendered a few tablespoons of fat, increase the heat to medium and cook until the salt pork is a crisp golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cracklings to a small ovenproof dish, leaving the fat in the pot, and reserve until later.
• Add the butter, ginger, garlic, bell pepper, onion, curry powder, and cayenne pepper to the pot and saute, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, for about 10 minutes, until the pepper and onion are softened but not browned.
• Add the white potatoes and the reserved mussel broth, turn up the heat, and bring to a boil. Cover and cook the potatoes vigorously for 5 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes. The broth should just barely cover the potatoes; if it doesn't, add enough water to cover. Lower the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes longer, until the white and sweet potatoes are soft on the outside but still firm in the center. If the broth hasn't thickened lightly, smash a few potatoes and sweet potatoes against the side of the pot and cook a minute or two longer to release their starch.
• Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the mussels and cream. Mussels are not as salty as clams, but you will still need to exercise a light hand as you season the chowder with salt. Add black pepper to taste. If you are not serving the chowder within the hour, let it cool a bit, then refrigerate; cover the chowder after it has chilled completely. Otherwise, let it sit at room temperature for up to an hour, allowing the flavors to meld.
• When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boil. Warm the cracklings in a low oven (200 degrees F) for a few minutes.
• Ladle the chowder into cups or bowls, making sure that the mussels, bell pepper, onion, and potatoes are evenly divided. Scatter the cracklings over the individual servings and sprinkle with the chopped cilantro and scallions.