New Zealand Green Mussels Recipe 455

Steps:

• Scrub muscles under cold running water. Using your fingers, pull out the beards that are visible between the shells. In an 8 quart Dutch oven combine 4 quarts (16 cups) cold water in 1/3 cup of the salt. Add muscles; soak for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse, discarding water. Repeat twice more. Preheat oven to 400°F. In a hot heavy-bottom roasting pan over medium heat cook bacon, shallots, and garlic until bacon is nearly crisp and shallots and garlic are tender; drain fat. Add the mussels, white wine, and 1 tablespoon of the butter to the pan; In a small microwave-safe bowl heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in the microwave on high heat for 30 to 60 seconds or until melted; stir in the breadcrumbs, parsley and the pinch of salt. Remove and discard the top shell of the mussels. Return the mussels to the roasting pan. Spoon a little of the breadcrumb mixture on top of each mussel. Place the roasting pan in the oven and bake for five minutes or until breadcrumbs are light brown. Keep an eye on the breadcrumbs as they may brown quickly. Remove from the oven. Drizzle reserved cooking liquid over the muscles to serve.

Steps:

• Scrub and clean mussels, rinsing them several times. Heat a thick frying pan until it is very hot. Add mussels and shake them over the high heat until they open. Discard any that do not open. Remove mussels, cool and shell, reserving any liquid.
• Heat oil in large pan; add parsley and garlic and saute until garlic begins to color. Add mussels along with the wine and cook over high heat until wine is almost completely evaporated. Add rice and stir over medium heat until rice begins to color. Season with pepper.
• Meanwhile, to the mussel liquid add enough chicken stock to make 3 to 3 1/2 cups. Heat. Add a cupful of hot stock to rice and cook over moderate heat, stirring often, until stock is absorbed. Add another cup and repeat procedure. Continue until all stock is used and rice is tender.