If you love mussels as much as we do my quick and easy mussels recipe will make you very very happy! If youโve always been intimated when it comes to shellfish, Iโm here to show you just how easy it is to prepare restaurant-style shellfish dishes in your home for a fraction of the cost of eating out.
How to buy fresh mussels
And todayโs subject is mussels. The majority of mussels that youโll find in local markets are farmed instead of wild-caught. This is good news both for the environment and for home cooks.
According to the Monterey Bay Aquariumโs Seafood Watch, farmed mussels (cultivated) are the โbest choiceโ when it comes to mussel buying because the methods used are responsible, chemical-free, and can also benefit the surrounding ocean habitat. On the consumer side of things, farmed mussels are typically grown suspended in seawater, rather than on the ocean floor, which means less sand,
On the consumer side of things, farmed mussels are typically grown suspended in seawater, rather than on the ocean floor, which means less sand, seaweed and grit to clean off!
All bags of mussels and clams must have a tag on them. This is important because it tells you when the mussels were removed from the water and where they were taken from. In the restaurant, we have to keep these tags on file, in case anyone claims to have gotten sick from the shellfish we served.
Hereโs an important tip about storing or transporting your mussels.
Never store or transport mussels in anything airtight because they are alive and you want to keep them that way (this goes for the plastic bags you put them in at the grocery store- leave them open so they can breathe)
How to cook fresh mussels
Mussels are so easy to cook they almost cook themselves. The first thing you need to do is rinse the mussels in cold running water. I usually do this with the mussels in a colander inside of a bigger bowl. I add fresh water and turn the mussels gently with my hands.
While youโre doing this you can pick out any mussels that are open. If they donโt close when you tap them, theyโre dead. If theyโre dead throw them out, never eat dead shellfish.
After youโve rinsed the mussels with fresh water 3 or 4 times let them drain.
For my mussels recipe, start with a large frying pan, skillet, or pot. Add olive oil, chopped garlic and red pepper flakes. As the garlic begins to cook, add the mussels and fresh chopped basil. If youโd like to add any white wine this would be the time to add it.
Cover the pot and let the mussels cook until theyโre all opened. Give them a couple more minutes than you think, to make sure they are fully cooked.
The fresher the mussels are the more natural juice youโll have. At this point, you could add your favorite spaghetti sauce, if you prefer the mussels in a red sauce.
Do I need to De-Beard the Mussels?
The majority of mussels youโll find in Supermarkets or at Seafood Distributors are farm-raised (including PEI mussels) and need little to no debearding. a good rinsing is usually all they need.
On the other hand, wild mussels can be full of sand and debris and will need more cleaning and de-bearding.
Where do the best Mussels come from?
Most chefs will agree that PEI (Prince Edward Island, Canada) is the gold standard for mussels in the US. That being said any cold water mussel is a good choice.
Washington state has amazing mussels, I just try to stay with cold water shellfish whenever possible.
Iโve eaten mussels in almost every country Iโve traveled to in Europe and they have ah-mazing!
What to serve with steamed mussels
Making a meal with my mussels recipe is pretty easy. You can either serve the mussels over pasta or serve up some crusty bread and cheese to go along with the meal. This is a good time to add in that rich dessert youโve been craving since the meal itself is a little on the light side.
I added in two types of Gorgonzola cheese, Piccante and Dolce. The difference is in the aging with the Dolce being creamier and not as sharp as the Piccante.
I served up crusty Sourdough bread with the cheese and an assortment of olives that made my mussels a filling dinner. Throw in some homemade gelato and weโve got a meal worthy of your favorite Italian restaurant.
More Recipes Youโll Love!
- Clams and Spaghetti
- New Zealand Mussels- 5 Ways
- Clams Casino Recipe
- Jersey Shore Deviled Clams
- Oysters Rockefeller
Jo
I canโt wait to try some mussels when travelling becomes safe. I have always got tempted looking at mussels but sadly we donโt get it in my country. Those looks tempting
Eileen
Good to know I look forward to cooking mussels at home using your recipe!
Melanie
I grew up eating Moules Mariniรจre, itโs my favorite starter!! Now you have me looking to see if I can get any here where I am now!! Your recipe looks delicious!
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli
Being Italian I love mussels and I have had them in many ways and many places. This is an easy, quick, and straightforward recipe to make delicious mussels to have with bread or pasta. Thank you for all the info about farmed mussels!
Marisa F. Stewart
We love our seafood!! We have a seafood night at least twice a week. Your information on the mussels was really helpful. I normally try to buy wild caught but reading about PEI mussels made me rest at ease about purchasing them from that area. And when I made your recipe I didnโt have basil handy but I did have Italian parsley. They they turned out delicious and luckily I had some fresh baked baguettes so I had a scarpetta to soak up the juice.
Veronika
Iโve never cooked mussels before myself but always wanted to try. I love your recipe and want to try to make it this month. Will let you know how it came out ๐
Leslie
I didnโt realize that you could have mussels prepared in just 15 minutes. Iโm a little naive when it comes to seafood. This is great to know. You had a lot of helpful information in this post. Thank you!
Kathryn Donangelo
We LOVED these mussels! Since we havenโt been able to eat out much this year, I loved making these at home and they tasted even better than the restaurants. Next time I find mussels at the store Iโll make these again. Thanks Dennis!
Swathi
I am afraid to clean them looks like really easy recipe I will try to buy and try this .
Bernice Hill
I was just chatting with a friend about how easy it is to make mussels at homeโฆeven though Iโve never done it. I am super nervous about buying bad mussels and getting sick. Once I bought some from Costco and I just couldnโt do itโฆthey smelled so bad!
Thanks for your tips on selecting and cleaning mussels. I think I could actually give this a go now.
Denise
Very informative post. I appreciate your tips and advice on buying and cooking mussels! Thank you!
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
Mussels are a must when you marry into an Italian family! This recipe is perfect and so easy! Definitely double the recipe as youโll go nuts over it!
Amy
These were so delicious! Only regret was not getting more!
Catherine
This was so delicious!
Alexandra
Love mussels! Thank you so much for all of your tips and tricks.
Laura
Love these mussels. Very tasty.