Refreshing New Zealand Green Mussel Salad
Refreshing New Zealand Green Mussel Salad
[Mussel Recipes] A Set of 3 Delicious Mussel Dishes: Salad, Oven-Baked, and Soup
Here are three delightful dishes made with nutrient-rich New Zealand green mussels, perfect for impressing guests. They are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat.
Main Ingredients- 20 cooked frozen New Zealand green mussels
- 1/4 onion (finely minced)
- 1/4 cucumber (finely minced)
- 1/2 red chili pepper (finely minced)
- 2 stalks scallions (chopped)
Mussel Salad Dressing- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp mirin (or rice wine)
- 1/2 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder (or 1 Tbsp minced garlic)
- Stevia (natural sweetener, for adjusting sweetness)
- Oligosaccharide (for adjusting sweetness, omit for ketogenic diet)
Mussel Oven Bake Sauce- Tomato sauce (spaghetti sauce can also be used)
- Sriracha sauce (for adjusting spiciness)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp mirin (or rice wine)
- 1/2 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder (or 1 Tbsp minced garlic)
- Stevia (natural sweetener, for adjusting sweetness)
- Oligosaccharide (for adjusting sweetness, omit for ketogenic diet)
Mussel Oven Bake Sauce- Tomato sauce (spaghetti sauce can also be used)
- Sriracha sauce (for adjusting spiciness)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the vegetables for the salad and oven-baked mussels. Finely mince the onion, cucumber, and red chili pepper. Chop the scallions.
Step 2
New Zealand green mussels are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation and support liver detoxification, making them a very healthy ingredient.
Step 3
For the cooked and frozen green mussels, thaw them by soaking in cold water or rinsing under running cold water.
Step 4
Do not discard the clear liquid released from the thawed mussels; collect it separately. This liquid can be used to make a delicious mussel soup.
Step 5
Rinse the thawed mussels lightly under cold running water.
Step 6
Prepare the dressing for the mussel salad. In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp mirin, 1/2 Tbsp red pepper flakes, 2 Tbsp sesame oil, and 1 tsp garlic powder. Mix well. (If using minced garlic, add 1 Tbsp instead of powder.)
Step 7
Adjust the sweetness using stevia, a natural sweetener. Add it gradually to achieve your desired level of sweetness. (If you are not following a ketogenic diet, you can add 1 Tbsp of sugar and 1 Tbsp of oligosaccharide for extra sweetness.)
Step 8
Add the mussels to the prepared dressing and toss gently to coat. After mixing, carefully separate the mussel meat from the shells to ensure the dressing evenly coats each piece.
Step 9
Arrange the dressed mussel meat decoratively on a serving plate.
Step 10
Top the mussels with the finely minced onion, cucumber, and red chili pepper, creating a colorful and appetizing presentation.
Step 11
Arrange some leafy greens around the edge of the plate. Then, place the dressed mussels and toppings onto the greens. Your vibrant and flavorful Mussel Salad is complete! Enjoy it with the surrounding greens.
Step 12
Now, let’s prepare the oven-baked mussels. The process of separating the mussel meat from the shells is the same as for the salad.
Step 13
In a small bowl, combine the tomato sauce (you can also use spaghetti sauce) and mix in Sriracha sauce for a spicy kick. (Feel free to omit the Sriracha sauce if you prefer less heat.) Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the sauce into each mussel shell.
Step 14
Place the separated mussel meat on top of the sauce in each shell. Then, add another teaspoon of sauce on top of the mussel meat. This ensures the mussels stay moist and flavorful after baking.
Step 15
Spoon a generous amount of the minced onion topping over the mussels.
Step 16
Following the onion, add the minced cucumber and red chili pepper toppings. The variety of colors will make the dish even more appealing.
Step 17
Finally, sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella cheese over the toppings. Place the mussels in a preheated oven and bake until the cheese is golden and bubbly. (Bake at 180°C / 350°F for about 5-10 minutes, depending on your oven.)
Step 18
Once removed from the oven, you’ll see the beautifully melted and golden mozzarella cheese. The combination of cheesy richness and the savory mussels creates a unique and delicious flavor.
Step 19
Your Oven-Baked Mussels are ready, with the mozzarella cheese perfectly golden and inviting!
Step 20
Lastly, let’s make a spicy and refreshing mussel soup. Add water gradually to the mussel broth collected in Step 3 until it reaches your desired saltiness. (The broth is already quite savory, so you likely won’t need to add extra salt.)
Step 21
Add the minced onion, chopped scallions, and minced red chili pepper to the broth and bring it to a simmer. Let the vegetables release their sweetness and aroma into the soup.
Step 22
Once the mussel broth is boiling, turn off the heat and add the prepared mussels. Avoid overcooking the mussels, as they can become tough. Just let them warm through gently.
Step 23
A flavorful and invigorating Mussel Soup is now complete! It’s perfect for enjoying with rice or as a delightful accompaniment to drinks.
Step 24
The beautifully prepared Mussel Salad.
Step 25
Visually appealing and deliciously satisfying Oven-Baked Mussels.
Step 26
Presenting these three distinct mussel dishes together creates a feast for the eyes and the palate. They are surprisingly easy to make, so I highly recommend them for any occasion!
Step 27
When enjoying the Mussel Salad, wrapping it with leafy greens enhances the dining experience. The fresh crunch of the greens complements the rich flavor of the mussels perfectly.
