Steamed mussels served in sauce make an excellent first course to a meal, but they can be a bit messy. In this recipe, the mussels are served on the half shell for an elegant and easy-to-eat party hors d’oeuvre. Steam the mussels until they pop open, then remove one side of their shells. Pack on a topping of fresh breadcrumbs mixed with butter, garlic, and parsley and broil until crispy. Serve with a crisp champagne cocktail.
- Yield: 6 servings
- Difficulty: Easy
- Total: 50 mins
Ingredients (8)
- 2 pounds large mussels, scrubbed
- 1 tablespoon water
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
- 1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs (from about 3 [1-inch-thick] slices of bread)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
- 1 medium garlic clove, finely chopped
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oven to broil and arrange a rack in the top position.
- Place the mussels and water in a large straight-sided frying pan over low heat and cover with a tightfitting lid. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the mussels open, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, uncover, and set aside to cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Pull apart the mussel shells and discard the meatless side of each, along with any beards (the beard is the thread that runs along the side of the shell; remove it by pulling it toward the hinge of the shell). With your fingers or a teaspoon, carefully detach the meat from each shell, place it back in the shell, and place the mussels on a rimmed baking sheet; set aside.
- Rinse out and dry the frying pan. Place it over medium-low heat, add the butter, and heat until melted. Add the breadcrumbs, parsley, and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
- Using a spoon, evenly divide the breadcrumb mixture over the mussels. Broil until golden brown and crunchy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately.
