Aromatic Tomato Mussel Spaghetti
Aromatic Tomato Mussel Spaghetti
Super Simple & Elegant Tomato Mussel Spaghetti Recipe for a Wonderful Dinner
Tired of asking ‘What’s for dinner?’ every single night? We’ve got a special yet incredibly simple recipe for you today. Introducing ‘Tomato Mussel Spaghetti,’ which anyone can easily and quickly make using store-bought tomato sauce. The harmony of fresh mussels and rich tomato sauce will give you a special dining experience, just like being at a restaurant. We’ve added a splash of cooking wine to eliminate any fishiness from the mussels and enhance their flavor. Despite its gourmet taste and appearance, the cooking process is surprisingly easy, so shall we get started together?
Main Ingredients- Spaghetti pasta 120g
- Fresh mussels 300g
- Store-bought tomato sauce 250mL
- Garlic 4 cloves (or about 4 slices)
- Onion 1/2 medium
- Green onions 1/3 bunch
- Olive oil 1 Tbsp
- Cooking wine (like Mirin) 1 Tbsp
- Black pepper to taste (approx. 1/3 tsp)
For Cooking Spaghetti- Water 1.5 liters
- Salt 1 Tbsp
- Water 1.5 liters
- Salt 1 Tbsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing the mussels. Rinse them under cold running water about two to three times. Remove the tough, beard-like threads attached to the mussels by pulling them off or trimming them with a knife. These threads can result in an unpleasant texture, so removing them carefully will lead to a smoother and cleaner-tasting spaghetti. We highly recommend this step for the best result.
Step 2
Next, prepare the vegetables. Dice the onion into approximately 0.7cm cubes. Thinly slice the garlic to about 0.3cm thickness, or mince it if you prefer. For the green onions, thinly slice the green parts diagonally to use as a garnish. This will make your finished dish look much more appealing.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the sauce. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once the oil is warm, add the sliced garlic and sauté for about 2 minutes until fragrant. Then, add the diced onion and cook until it becomes translucent. Once the onion softens, add the prepared mussels and turn the heat up to high. Stir everything well quickly to combine.
Step 4
As the mussels begin to cook, add 1 tablespoon of cooking wine. Cooking wine helps to eliminate any fishy odor from the mussels and enhances their flavor. After adding the cooking wine, stir again to ensure all ingredients are well mixed.
Step 5
During cooking, the mussels will release their juices, making the pan moist. At this point, pour in 250mL of store-bought tomato sauce generously. (If you feel the sauce is a bit scarce, you can use around 300-350mL.)
Step 6
After adding the tomato sauce, reduce the heat to medium-low. Cooking over high heat can cause the sauce to splatter, so be cautious. Once the sauce comes to a gentle simmer, season it to your preference. Since most store-bought tomato sauces are already seasoned, taste it first and consider adding just a pinch of black pepper or a tiny bit of salt. I personally found that just adding black pepper was enough to balance the flavors. Your delicious tomato mussel sauce is now ready! Set it aside off the heat for a moment.
Step 7
Now, it’s time to cook the spaghetti. In a large pot, bring 1.5 liters of water to a rolling boil, then add 1 tablespoon of salt. Once the water returns to a boil, add the spaghetti pasta and cook for about 7 minutes, which is usually 1 minute less than the package instructions. Once the pasta is al dente, drain it in a colander. It’s a good idea to reserve some of the pasta water, as it can be useful later when combining the pasta and sauce.
Step 8
This is the final step! Gently reheat the tomato mussel sauce over low heat. Once the sauce is warm, add the cooked spaghetti pasta and toss well to ensure the sauce coats every strand of pasta evenly. Continue to stir and cook for another 1-2 minutes, allowing the pasta to absorb the sauce nicely. Transfer the finished spaghetti to a serving plate and garnish with the pre-sliced green onions. The vibrant colors and abundant appearance will surely whet your appetite. Say goodbye to your ‘what’s for dinner?’ dilemma!
Step 9
Try twirling your fork with a generous scoop of mussels and spaghetti pasta together. The delightful chewiness of the pasta and the plump mussels are a perfect match.
Step 10
Today, we’ve made a simple and elegant ‘Tomato Mussel Spaghetti’ using popular ingredients like tomato sauce and fresh mussels. How about preparing this special dish for dinner tonight and enjoying a wonderful meal with your family? Enjoy your meal!
