Berthas Favorite Mussels Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Place mussels on a large piece of tin foil. Sprinkle garlic, tomato, onions, cilantro. Add a dash of wine, butter and some pepper. Wrap up the edges to keep in the juices and place on the grill. Cook until mussels open. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and vegetable oil in a large saute pan on medium heat. When the pan is hot, add a pinch of salt along with the onions and garlic. Sweat until they are a tad past translucent and are just starting to acquire color. Before the garlic starts to brown, add the tomatoes, scallions and basil. Saute so that the flavors blend together, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes more.
• Add the mussels to the pan. Next, add the lemon juice and then the Chardonnay to deglaze the pan, and then quickly cover with a lid to steam the mussels. Note: Do not open for at least 1 1/2 to 2 minutes so the mussels can steam.
• Then, lift the lid and add the parsley (checking to make sure that there is enough moisture in the bottom of the pan to continue to steam the mussels). If everything is going properly, the mussels will have almost fully opened and there will be plenty of liquid still in the bottom of the pan to finish steaming the mussels. In that case, quickly cover the pan for another minute and a half. If the wine has evaporated and the mussels have not opened, add a small additional amount of wine, about a half cup more, and then re-cover the pan to cook out the additional raw alcohol taste and allow the mussels to fully open.
• Once 3 to 4 minutes total have passed since the beginning of the cooking process, all of the mussels should have opened and their natural juices should have leaked out into the bottom of the pan, combining with the fresh herbs and vegetables to create a simmering broth. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the butter until melted.
• Plate the mussels in a bowl and pour the sauce on top. Serve with your favorite toasted bread.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add leeks, shallots, garlic, mussels, white wine, and lemon and saute over until the mussels open. Season with salt and pepper, and then add butter and tomatoes. Continue cooking until the butter is melted, carefully tossing to combine. Sprinkle with thyme and parsley, adding more, to taste, if desired. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Saute the garlic in olive oil, over medium heat, until lightly toasted. Add the wine (or beer), lime juice, mussels, scallions, parsley, and chile flakes. Turn the heat up to high, and steam for about 5 minutes, or until the mussels are open. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and cilantro and serve. Spoon the mussels into bowls and ladle the sauce over them. Discard any mussels that do not open.

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.

Steps:

• Heat broiler. Put olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper and let sizzle for 30 seconds without browning. Add the mussels, stir to coat and increase heat to high. Add the wine or water, and put on lid. After 2 minutes, give the mussels a stir, then replace lid and continue cooking until all mussels have opened, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Paint cut sides of the baguette pieces with oil and place cut side up under broiler to toast. Rub toasts with the remaining garlic cloves.
• Stir the chopped parsley into the mussels, then ladle mussels and broth into bowls. Serve with the garlic toasts.