Mussels

Mussels Recipe

Bonjour.

I came all the way to south of France to eat these mussels–Moules à la Marinière, or French/Belgium-style mussels cooked with white wine, onions, and parsley.

Not that I can’t get mussels in California, but eating these mussels right here in a Mediterranean coastal town just adds to the authenticity and–most importantly–the flavors.

How to Clean Mussels

Mussels are a type of marine bivalve mollusk that have are enclosed by a shell consisting of two hinged parts, connected by a tissue.

They grow in abundance on rocks, wooden structures on pier, jetty, or dock. As a result, they have “beards” that attach themselves to solid surfaces.

To clean mussels, please follow the simple steps below:

• Soak the mussels in a big pot of cold water.
• Rub and scrub both sides of the shell by using a soft sponge or a kitchen towel.
• Pull out the loose beard of each mussel by using your finger. Use some pressure to make sure that the beard is completely pulled off.
• Transfer the cleaned mussel to a colander.
• Rinse the cleaned mussels with cold running water a few times. Drain the water dry and the mussels are ready for cooking.

How to Cook Mussels

This restaurant-style mussels recipe calls for very simple ingredients below:

• Mussels
• Unsalted butter
• Garlic
• White wine
• Lemon
• Salt and ground black pepper
• Italian parsley

Mussels are very easy to cook at home and they cook in a matter of minutes.

First, clean the mussels per the cleaning instructions above. Next, heat up a pot or a skillet and add the butter.

Saute the garlic, then add the mussels into the pot or skillet. Add the white wine, lemon, salt, ground black pepper and parsley.

Cover the pot and cook for 1-2 minutes, until all mussels are open. Serve immediately with a crusty bread or sliced French baguette.

How Many Calories per Serving?

This recipe is only 147 calories per serving.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

String Beans (French Beans)

French Roasted Potatoes

Lobster Bisque

Choux Pastry

Yield: 4 people

Mussels

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Mussels - French/Belgium-style mussels cooked with white wine, onions, and parsley.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 lb. (400 g) mussels, scrubbed clean
• 1 stalk parsley, use only the leaves-finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1 lemon, quartered and cut into small pieces
• salt to taste
• 1 dash black pepper

To serve:

• French bread, sliced
• olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Instructions

1. In a small pot, add the melted butter, and then garlic, onions, lemon, and chopped parsley leaves.5
2. Add the mussels, wine, and salt and pepper. Cover, and cook over a high heat for about five minutes (shaking the pan intermittently until the mussels open).
3. Slice the bread to medium thickness and rub garlic over it. Drizzle with olive oil and lightly toast on both sides.
4. Serve the mussels in the pot with the bread on the side.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 360Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 71mgSodium 665mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 29g