Mussels, these bivalve mollusks, are a delectable seafood delicacy enjoyed worldwide. Steaming mussels is a classic cooking method that preserves their delicate flavor and tender texture while allowing for versatile culinary creations. This article presents a comprehensive guide to steaming mussels, encompassing essential techniques, expert tips, and a collection of delectable recipes that showcase the culinary versatility of this seafood gem. From classic steamed mussels with white wine and garlic to innovative Asian-inspired variations, this guide offers a culinary journey that will satisfy seafood enthusiasts and home cooks alike. Discover the secrets to perfectly steamed mussels, explore a range of flavorful recipes, and elevate your seafood cooking skills to new heights.
Let's cook with our recipes!
HOW TO STEAM MUSSELS
How to Steam Mussels. Mussels are an ideal dinner party dish -- they're fairly expensive but are still elegant enough to impress your guests. Best of all, you can prepare them quickly and easily by steaming them. The trick to steaming...
Provided by wikiHow
Categories Fish and Seafood
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Scrub the mussels under cold water. You'll need 4 pounds (1.8 kg) of mussels. Place them in a large colander and rinse them under cold water in the sink. Use a vegetable brush to scrub the mussels and rinse them well. If you haven't bought mussels before, look for small ones. In most cases, they're cultivated so they don't have much sand in them and have a less fishy taste than wild varieties.
- Scrape off any barnacles. As you're washing the mussels, examine the shells' exterior carefully. Hard, cone-like bumps on the surface are known as barnacles and should be removed. A vegetable brush usually isn't strong enough to take them off, so use a paring knife to scrape them away.
- Throw away any cracked shells. While you're washing the mussels, pay careful attention the shells. A closed or slightly gaping shell indicates that the mussel is fresh, while an open or cracked shell is a sign that it may be spoiled. Discard any cracked or opened shells. It's a good idea to smell the mussels after you wash them too. They should smell like the ocean to indicate that they're fresh.
- Cut away any beards from the mussels. After the mussels are washed, look along the seam between the two halves of the shells. Any brownish threads that resemble seaweed hanging from the area are known as the beard. Use your fingers to tear them away or pull them taut and cut them with a sharp knife. If you've purchased cultivated mussels, the beards have likely been mechanically removed.
STEAMED MUSSELS
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Sweat the shallots until translucent and without any color, 1 to 2 minutes, and then add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Pour in the wine and bring to a simmer before adding the mussels. Cover tightly with a lid and steam until the mussels open, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the mussels from the pot to avoid over-cooking, and discard any that do not open. Serve alongside the cooking liquid.
STEAMED MUSSELS I
Steps:
- Fill a large pot with mussels. Sprinkle chopped onions and garlic over the shellfish. Do not add water, as mussels produce all the water needed for steaming! Cook over high heat until most or all of the mussels open. Discard any that do not open.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 166.9 calories, Carbohydrate 7.7 g, Cholesterol 71.2 mg, Fat 2.1 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 27.4 g, SaturatedFat 0.2 g, Sodium 393 mg, Sugar 3.7 g
STEAMED CLAMS OR MUSSELS
Make and share this Steamed Clams or Mussels recipe from Food.com.
Provided by love4culinary
Categories Mussels
Time 23m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large stockpot, heat your oil very hot.
- Add the garlic and saute quickly for 1 minute.
- Add chopped basil, wine, broth, butter and bring to a boil.
- Then add clams or mussels, cover with a lid, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Remove lid, and stir well.
- Replace lid and continue cooking til open.
- With slotted spoon, remove clams/mussels and distribute them into 4 pasta bowls.
- Season broth with salt and pepper, and pour hot broth over clams/mussels.
- Garnish with fresh basil and serve warm.
STEAMED MUSSELS AND CLAMS
These mussels and clams are steamed in a fragrant broth of shallots, herbs, and white wine. You'll want lots of grilled toasts to sop up the juices.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Scrub mussels and clams in cool water. Remove beards from mussels, and discard all broken or opened shells. Remove from water, and refrigerate until needed.
- Heat broiler or grill to medium-high heat. Brush bread slices with olive oil on both sides. Place on grill or under broiler for about 30 seconds on each side or until golden. While still hot, rub tops with cut side of garlic clove.
- Place a large stockpot on grill or stove over medium heat. Add butter. When melted and bubbling, add leeks, shallots, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, and chile. Saute until leeks and shallots are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add white wine, and salt and pepper to taste; bring to a simmer. Add mussels and clams; cover; cook until shells open, about 7 minutes. Serve in a bowl with the croutons.
SIMPLE STEAMED CLAMS OR MUSSELS
This straightforward method of cooking mussels or clams produces an excellent dinner in 30 minutes. You can build in extra flavors by varying the aromatic vegetables, the liquid and the last-minute stir-ins. All you need is some bread or simply cooked rice, grain or potatoes to sop up the broth.
Provided by Emily Weinstein
Categories dinner, lunch, quick, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Put the oil in a saucepan large enough to hold all the clams or mussels over medium heat. When hot, add the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, 5 minutes.
- Add the liquid along with the clams or mussels, turn the heat up to high, and cover the pot. Cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until they all (or nearly all) open, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.
- Scoop the mussels into a serving bowl. Remove as many shallots as you can with a slotted spoon and scatter them on top. Pour or ladle off the accumulated liquid, leaving any sediment in the bottom of the pan, and pour it over the mussels. Garnish with parsley and serve with the lemon wedges.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 554, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 22 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 83 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 3410 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
STEAMED MUSSELS
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Rinse the mussels under cold running water while scrubbing with a vegetable brush. Discard any with broken shells. Heat oil in a 6 to 8-quart stockpot. Saute the shallot, garlic and thyme to create a base flavor. Add the mussels and give them a good toss. Add wine, lemon juice, chicken broth and red pepper flakes; cover the pot and steam over medium-high for 5 minutes until the mussels open. Toss in the tomato, parsley and butter, recover the pot, and steam for another minute to soften. The tomatoes should keep their shape. Serve with plenty of grilled garlic bread to sop up the broth.
STEAMED MUSSELS II
Less is more when it comes to cooking mussels! Use only fresh mussels, which are tightly closed when you buy them. If you can't find fresh mussels, make something else! Serve with slices of fresh crusty bread to soak up the delicious broth.
Provided by STEPHANO
Categories Seafood Shellfish Mussels
Time 25m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a medium stock pot, heat butter over medium heat. Add shallots and saute until translucent.
- Pour in wine and mussels. Raise heat to medium/high and steam mussels until shells open, about 5 minutes.
- Pour mussels and cooking liquid into a serving bowl, sprinkle with parsley and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 158.1 calories, Carbohydrate 5.4 g, Cholesterol 42 mg, Fat 6.6 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 10.7 g, SaturatedFat 3.7 g, Sodium 195.6 mg, Sugar 1.9 g
SIMPLE STEAMED MUSSELS
Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network
Categories appetizer
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Place a cast-iron enameled Dutch oven over high heat and add the olive oil. Add the onions, garlic and butter and briefly cook until the onion softens, 2 to 3 minutes, then stir in the chili flakes. Add the mussels, Chardonnay and chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until all of the mussels have opened, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the lid then add the parsley.
- Preheat a grill pan over medium heat. Brush the bread slices with olive oil on both sides. Grill until toasted on both sides, 30 seconds per side.
- Serve the mussels with a rustic piece of grilled bread.
HOW TO CLEAN AND STEAM MUSSELS
Steps:
- To clean mussels:
- Scrub them with a brush under cold water and scrape off any barnacles with a knife. If the byssus, or beard , is still attached (most cultivated mussels have been trimmed mechanically), remove it by pulling it from tip to hinge or pulling and cutting it off with your knife. Do this just before cooking. Discard any with cracked or open shells.
- To steam mussels:
- For 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds mussels, put 1 cup liquid (water or a mix of water and white wine or beer) in a 4- to 6-quart pot. Bring to a boil, then dump in the mussels and cover. Reduce heat to moderate and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mussels open wide. This will take 3 to 6 minutes, but check frequently after 3 minutes. Scoop out the mussels with a slotted spoon (discard any that are unopened) and save the flavor-packed liquid if desired.
Tips:
- Choose Fresh Mussels: Select mussels that are tightly closed, with no cracks or damage to the shells.
- Prep the Mussels: Before cooking, remove any barnacles or debris from the mussel shells. Use a stiff brush to scrub the shells clean.
- Steaming Liquid: Use a flavorful liquid for steaming, such as white wine, broth, or a combination of both.
- Seasoning: Add aromatics like garlic, shallots, or herbs to the steaming liquid for extra flavor.
- Steaming Time: Mussels typically take 5-7 minutes to steam until cooked. Avoid overcooking, as this can make them tough.
- Discard Unopened Mussels: After steaming, discard any mussels that remain closed. These mussels are not safe to eat.
Conclusion:
Steaming mussels is a quick and easy way to enjoy this delicious and versatile seafood. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can prepare perfectly cooked mussels that are tender, flavorful, and packed with nutrients. Whether you serve them as an appetizer, main course, or part of a seafood feast, steamed mussels are sure to impress. So next time you're looking for a seafood dish that is both easy to make and incredibly delicious, give steamed mussels a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love