Creamy Spiced Mussels Recipes

MUSSELS IN CURRY CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook shallots and garlic in simmering wine until translucent.
• Stir in cream and curry powder. When sauce is heated through, add mussels. Cover, and steam mussels for a few minutes, until their shells open wide. With a slotted spoon, transfer steamed mussels to a bowl, leaving the sauce in the pan. Discard any unopened mussels.
• Whisk butter into the cream sauce. Turn heat off, and stir in parsley and green onions. Serve immediately.

MOULES MARINIèRE WITH CREAM, GARLIC AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Wash the mussels under plenty of cold, running water. Discard any open ones that won't close when lightly squeezed.
• Pull out the tough, fibrous beards protruding from between the tightly closed shells and then knock off any barnacles with a large knife. Give the mussels another quick rinse to remove any little pieces of shell.
• Soften the garlic and shallots in the butter with the bouquet garni, in a large pan big enough to take all the mussels - it should only be half full.
• Add the mussels and wine or cider, turn up the heat, then cover and steam them open in their own juices for 3-4 minutes. Give the pan a good shake every now and then.
• Remove the bouquet garni, add the cream and chopped parsley and remove from the heat.
• Spoon into four large warmed bowls and serve with lots of crusty bread.

CREAMY SPICED MUSSELS

Steps:

• Scrub the mussels in a large bowl of cold water and discard any that are open. Put in a large pan with the wine. Bring to the boil, cover and shake the pan over a high heat until the mussels are open, about 3-4 mins.
• Tip the mussels into a colander set over a large bowl to catch the juices. Discard any that have not opened. Strain the cooking liquid through a sieve into a jug. Keep the mussels warm.
• Fry the shallots in the butter in the large pan until they are softened, but not browned. Stir in the flour and curry paste, and cook for 1 min. Add the cooking liquid (discarding the last little bit, which may be gritty) and season with pepper. Don't add salt, as the mussel juices will be salty enough.
• Stir the crème fraîche into the sauce, warming it through over a low heat until thickened and glossy. Divide the mussels between four bowls and pour over the sauce. Scatter with parsley and serve with chips or bread to mop up the juices.

CREAMY GARLICKY MUSSELS

Steps:

• Scrub the mussels with a vegetable brush under running water; discard any with broken shells or that remain opened when tapped. In a large pot over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter in the olive oil. Add the garlic, thyme, and lemon slices and cook until everything has softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the mussels and stir to coat them with all the flavors. Add the wine, then the chicken broth; cover the pot and steam for 10 to 12 minutes until the mussels open. Remove the mussels from the pot. Take the meat out of 10 of the mussels and put them back into the pot along with the remaining butter. Using an immersion blender, buzz the liquid until the sauce thickens and becomes creamy; taste and adjust seasoning. Divide the remaining mussels among the serving bowls and spoon over the sauce.
• Serve with plenty of crusty French bread to dip in the sauce.