Unlocking the Mystery of Shellfish

How to Steam Fresh Mussels

I've been writing about getting your kids to eat healthy by cooking healthy these past few weeks. Yes, this is important. But, sometimes we just need a little time to ourselves, right? Tonight, the kids are at Grandma and Grandpa's and playing on the farm. The house is quiet and I have it ALL to myself. Really, how often does this happen? Practically NEVER. So, I am taking advantage of this opportunity to cook a little something for myself!

What's on the menu? Freshly Steamed Mussels in a delicious white wine sauce. (A little tip on the wine, don't cook with anything that you wouldn't drink. If the wine doesn't taste good, the food won't taste good.) There is no need to be afraid of fresh shellfish, once you master your first batch, you'll begin experimenting with your own sauces and spices...I promise ;-)

So, pour yourself a glass of wine, crank up your favorite Pandora station, and let's get cookin'!!

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8-10 minutes

Ingredients Needed:

1 pound fresh mussels
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, minced
1 tbsp. garlic, minced
1 tbsp. basil, minced
1 tsp. each salt and pepper
2 cups white wine (don't use anything you won't drink when cooking with wine!)
6 oz. tomato sauce (use as much or as little as you wish. It's all about the flavor.)

Equipment Needed:

large sauce pan
sharp knife
cutting board
strainer
large mixing bowl

How to Steam Fresh Mussels

Step 1 - place fresh mussels into a large mixing bowl and cover them with cool water. This will get the grit out of the shells. (Cool water is important. If it is too warm, the shells with start to open and we don't want that...yet.)

Step 2 - in a large sauce pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced onion, garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Saute until the onions start to caramelize.

 

Step 3 - pour the white wine into the pan and stir. Coax as much off of the bottom of the pan as possible. This is where the flavor lies! Let it simmer for a few minutes to allow the alcohol to cook off a bit.

Step 4 - add the tomato sauce. I happen to love the tang of tomato sauce so I tend to add more. If you aren't a fan, then you don't have to add any at all!

Step 5 - drain the mussels and add them to the sauce pan. Cover and leave them alone for a few minutes. The steam will open the shells and allow that delicious sauce to flavor the meat.

 

Step 6 - The mussels will take approximately 6-8 minutes to steam. Remove them from the heat and add them to a beautiful dish. Serve with a glass of your favorite wine...and maybe catch up on some of those shows you've been DVRing for months!!