Salpicon De Choros Smoked Mussel Salad Recipes

SALPICON DE CHOROS (SMOKED MUSSEL SALAD)

Steps:

• Soak mesquite chips in water for a few hours; heat them in a large Dutch oven or heavy roaster.
• Meanwhile, scrub the mussels and place in a dish that fits inside the roaster.
• When the chips smoke, place the mussels on top, splash water around for steam, cover tightly and heat for 2-3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and leave covered for 1 hour.
• Discard unopened mussels.
• Shred lettuce; scrape carrot, cut in juliennes and blanch; peel, seed and dice tomatoes; peel and dice avocado; peel and slice eggs.
• Mix mussels and vegetables, toss with dressing and le t stand for a few minutes.
• Serve in bowls, garnished with egg slices.

SHRIMP AND MUSSEL SALAD WITH CABBAGE SLAW

Steps:

• Bring hot water, sufficient to cover the shrimp, to boil. Drop in the shrimp. Leave in the hot water for no more than 90 seconds. Drain and run cold water over. Peel. (You can peel before you cook if you prefer. I tend to peel some while waiting on the water, and the rest after. You can even skip this step by buying pre-cooked shrimp, but I find they often taste a little funky.).
• Bring hot water, sufficient to cover the mussels, to boil. Drop in the mussels -- there were enough of these that I divided the lot and did this step twice -- and let them cook. When foam starts rising, after about 3 minutes, you can reduce the heat to a strong simmer, and fish out (using tongs) the mussels whose shells are opening, and place in a separate bowl. By seven minutes, all the mussels that will open should have done so, unless your pot was too tightly packed. Run cold water over the retrieved mussels. Best is to put the mussels in a bowl that is directly under running cold water as you retrieve them. Discard any mussels that do not open. The opening size should be over 1/8th inch for it to count for something I'd serve to others, not to mention eat myself.
• Remove mussels from their shells, and add to shrimp, and store, covered, in fridge.
• Slice thinly: cabbages, onion, fennel bulb. Roughly chop shreds to smaller amounts.
• If your cucumber is waxed, or if it has a thick skin, peel it. Otherwise you may optionally leave the skin on. Slice cucumber into very fine slices. Halve or quarter these, depending on the thickness of the cucumber.
• Put the above vegetation into a large serving bowl.
• Add the fresh parsley (don't stint, but I didn't measure it), chopped fine. Add the capers, the ground pepper and the nigella seeds. Make the nigella seeds, if you have them, a heaping tablespoonful.
• Add the chilled seafood.
• Dressing: the juice of 1.5 large lemons (slice lemons into segments and squeeze, removing seeds as you go). Add the vinegar and the olive oil, mix, and pour over your salad. Toss the salad up. Try to get everything coated, lightly. Feel free to add a little bit more of the oil and the vinegar, if you think this needs.
• Optional garnish at the end: 1 tomato (from a roadside stand, a farmer's market, or your own garden, NOT the supermarket) sliced and laid invitingly atop the salad.

MUSSEL SALAD WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a saucepan; add water to cover, and bring to a boil. Cover; reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside.
• Steam mussels in water, covered, 10 minutes or until shells open; discard any unopened shells.
• Trim tough outer leaves from fennel. Dice stalks to equal 1 cup; set aside.
• Cut fennel bulb in half vertically; discard core. Cut each half crosswise into thin slices to measure 1/2 cup, and set aside. Reserve remaining fennel for another use.
• Combine vinegar, red onion, oil, salt, pepper and garlic in a large bowl, and stir well.
• Remove 1/4 cup dressing; set aside.
• Add potatoes, mussels, fennel, and tomato wedges to the bowl; toss gently to coat. Cover and chill 30 minutes.
• Combine reserved 1/4 cup dressing and greens in a bowl; toss well.
• To serve, divide greens evenly among 4 salad bowls. Arrange one-fourth of mussel mixture and 2 egg quarters over each salad.

MUSSEL SALAD

Steps:

• Cook mussels until they are fully opened, (3-4 minutes) and the meat is firm. Pull the mussels from shells.
• Mix fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar well, Add remaining ingredients.
• Toss mussel meats with sauce. Refrigerate for an hour before serving; serve on a bed of arugula, with a slice of tomato.