Fried Beer Battered Mussels With Two Sauces Recipes

Steps:

• Clean mussels by scrubbing their shells with a brush while rinsing under cold running water. If necessary, use a paring knife to tug and cut out weedy "beards" coming out of the bottom of the shells. Pick through mussels and discard any with broken or open shells that won't close when you tap them. Heat a large, dry skillet over medium-high heat. Add mussels, shallot, garlic and tomatoes and stir to combine. Cook for two minutes and then add beer and continue cooking and stirring until shells open, about another four minutes.
• Transfer mussels to serving bowls with a slotted spoon and continue to simmer liquid to reduce it slightly, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Remove pan from heat and swirl in butter. Stir in chervil or tarragon if using. Pour broth over mussels, sprinkle pretzel crumbs over each portion (if using) and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Whisk flours, five spice, egg and beer in a bowl until smooth (I use a bar mix).
• Heat oil in deep fry pan or wok. Dip fish in batter, deep-fry fish, in batches, until crisp and cooked through. Serve with lemon mayonnaise, and lemon wedges if desired.
• Lemon Mayonnaise.
• Combine mayonnaise, rind, juice and pepper in a bowl, cover and refrigerate until needed.
• Cocktail Sauce.
• Combine mayonnaise, ketchup, cognac, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce and paprika in a bowl again cover and refrigerate until needed.

Steps:

• Wash the mussels, scrubbing their shells and pulling off the little"beard" with a sharp paring knife.
• Place the mussels in a large wide pot with about two inches of water.
• Cover and steam until the mussels open, about six or seven minutes.
• Remove and drain, discarding any mussels that haven't opened.
• Remove the mussels from their shells and place in a colander.
• Season lightly with salt and toss with about one and a half cups of flour, until all the mussels are coated.
• Tap the colander to rid it of excess flour.
• Fill a large skillet with about one and a half inches of oil and heat until almost smoking.
• Add the mussels, in batches i f necessary and fry until crisp and golden.
• Serve warm Either in a mortar or pestle or in the bowl of a food processor, pulverize the garlic and salt to a paste.
• Add the walnuts and pound or pulverize until the mixture is mealy.
• Dampen the bread under the tap and squeeze dry.
• Add to the bowl and continue pulverizing all together.
• Drizzle in the olive oil and vinegar, alternating between each, and pound all together until the skordalia is creamy.
• If it is too thick, add a little water.
• Serve as a dip, or as an accompaniment to fresh or fried vegetables and various fish.