Gourmet Steamed Mussels: Better Than Your Favorite Restaurant!
Gourmet Steamed Mussels: Better Than Your Favorite Restaurant!
Simple Steamed Mussels Recipe: Perfect as a Side Dish or Main Course!
Create restaurant-quality steamed mussels right in your own kitchen! This recipe features the briny, savory flavor of fresh mussels enhanced by aromatic basil and a hint of spice from chili flakes. It’s an ideal companion for beer or wine, and its straightforward preparation makes it accessible for cooks of all levels.
Ingredients- 1kg fresh mussels
- 10g fresh basil (about a handful)
- 1/2 medium onion
- 7 dried red chili peppers (or Korean Cheongyang peppers for spice)
- 4 cloves garlic
- 8 cherry tomatoes
- 20g unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp chili oil
- 100ml dry white wine (or Korean rice wine ‘cheongju’, or a little water)
- 5g dried basil
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 250g store-bought tomato sauce
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, thoroughly wash the mussels under running water, scrubbing away any dirt or barnacles. Remove the ‘beards’ (byssus threads) from the shells. Peel and coarsely chop the onion and garlic. Don’t worry about chopping them too finely.
Step 2
Remove the stems from the dried chili peppers and cut them in half, shaking out some of the seeds to control the spiciness. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Gently press the cut side of the tomatoes with the back of your knife to slightly crush them; this will release more juice and flavor into the sauce.
Step 3
Heat the chili oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped garlic and onion and sauté until fragrant and translucent. Once the garlic and onion begin to soften, add the 20g of butter and let it melt. When the butter is fully melted, add the cleaned mussels to the pan and stir-fry over high heat for a minute or two.
Step 4
As the mussels begin to cook, pour in the 100ml of white wine and let it bubble to cook off the alcohol. Add the halved and crushed cherry tomatoes to the pan and continue to sauté.
Step 5
Sprinkle in the 5g of dried basil and 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper for added aroma. You can also add a pinch of salt at this stage if desired.
Step 6
Finally, add the 250g of tomato sauce and stir gently to combine all the ingredients. Once the sauce begins to simmer, cover the pan loosely with a lid. Covering the pan helps the mussels cook more quickly and evenly.
Step 7
Check that all the mussels have opened their shells and are fully cooked. Turn off the heat. Carefully transfer the steamed mussels to a serving dish and garnish generously with fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately while hot for the best flavor experience.
