Curried Mussel Pie Food

SPICED FISH & MUSSEL PIE

Steps:

• Boil the parsnips and potatoes for 15-20 mins until tender. Drain and mash well with 25g/1oz butter and seasoning. Cover and set aside.
• Bring the stock to the boil in a large pan. Tip in the mussels, cover and leave to steam for about 3 mins, or until the shells open. Drain into a colander set over a large bowl to reserve the stock. Remove and throw away the shells and any un-opened mussels. Cover the cooked mussels to stop them drying out.
• Melt the remaining butter and fry the onion until softened. Stir in the curry powder and fl our, and cook for about 1 min. Pour in the coconut milk and 3-4 tbsp of the reserved mussel stock and stir well until you have a smooth sauce. Leave to simmer for 5 mins until thickened.
• Add the cod to the sauce, return to a simmer and cook for 3-4 mins, stirring occasionally, but trying not to break up the cod. Stir in the mussels, prawns and coriander, season, then tip into a large ovenproof dish. Spread the parsnip mash over the top.
• To serve now heat the grill and grill until the mash is golden and crusty. To eat later cool, cover, then chill for a couple of hours. To serve, heat oven to 200C/ fan 180C/gas 6 and bake for 35-40 mins until hot all the way through.

THAI RED CURRY MUSSELS

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Heat the oil in a heavy Dutch oven on the grates of the grill until shimmering. Add the lemongrass, curry paste, wine, coconut milk, fish sauce, and lime juice and bring to a simmer, whisking. Add the mussels, cover the pot, and let steam until opened. During the last minute of cooking, add the cilantro and basil. Serve from Dutch oven into individual bowls, discarding the lemongrass.

COCONUT CURRY MUSSELS

Steps:

• Soak the raw mussels in cold water, then de-beard: Place mussels in a bowl of cold water so the mussels will spit out any sand or mud. Let them sit for 10 minutes. Drain and repeat. Toss any mussels that are open as these are dead. Debeard the mussels, pulling out their byssal threads (aka: their "beards") and place them in a bowl of cold water until ready to use.

CURRIED MUSSELS

Steps:

• Heat coconut oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion in the hot oil until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add ginger, green curry paste, lemon zest, and garlic. Stir in coconut milk, fish sauce, water, and lime juice. Bring to a vigorous simmer.
• Place mussels in a steamer above simmering sauce; cook until mussels open, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove mussels from heat and place into a large serving bowl.
• Place cilantro into the sauce mixture and cook just until it turns bright green, 30 to 60 seconds. Pour sauce over mussels and serve.

MUSSELS IN CURRY CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add the curry powder and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add the onion, celery, shallots, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; cook until the vegetables are translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the wine and 1/4 cup water and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the mussels; cover and cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until the mussels open, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the open mussels to a bowl using a slotted spoon (discard any that do not open). Cover the bowl and set aside.
• Add the cream to the pot with the cooking liquid and vegetables; bring to a boil and cook until reduced by half, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the cognac and lemon juice. Return the mussels to the pot and stir to coat with the sauce. Serve with the lemon wedges and toasted baguette slices.

COCONUT-CURRY MUSSELS

Steps:

• Trim the lemongrass, leaving 6 inches at the root end; discard the tops. Smash the stalks with the flat side of a knife and cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in each of 2 large pots over medium-high heat. Add 1 sliced onion to each and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add half each of the garlic, lemongrass, ginger and curry paste to each pot and cook, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes.
• Add 1 can coconut milk, 2 tablespoons fish sauce and 1/4 cup water to each pot and bring to a simmer. Divide the mussels between the pots; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mussels open, about 8 minutes. (Discard any that do not open.) Add the juice of 2 limes to each pot, then add the lime halves. Stir 1/2 cup cilantro into each. Serve with bread, if desired.

GRILLED MUSSELS WITH CURRY BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high medium-heat and lightly oil grate.
• Whisk together the butter, garlic, curry powder, cumin, and salt in a small bowl.
• Arrange four large sheets of aluminum foil on a flat surface. Divide the mussels into four even portions and place one portion on each piece of foil. Dot the mussels with the curry mixture. Sprinkle the red bell pepper and parsley over the top of each portion. Top each with lime slices. Wrap foil tightly around the portions.
• Cook the packets on the preheated grill until the mussels have opened, 5 to 10 minutes. Discard any mussels which do not open.
• Transfer the mussels to small bowls and garnish each with a lime wedge to serve.

CURRIED SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Mash the potatoes with butter and milk. Season with salt & pepper.
• Brown the meat in a large skillet, and put in colander to drain.
• Heat the oil in a skillet and add the onions and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally until they are wilted. Add the curry powder, cumin and coriander and cook briefly, stirring.
• Add the meat, salt, pepper, the ketchup, broth and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
• Put mixture into a baking dish and top with the defrosted frozen peas, then the mashed potato mixture. Smooth over the top. Dot with a tablespoon of butter. Run the mixture under the broiler until it is golden brown.

SEAFOOD CURRY

Steps:

• For the curry sauce, whizz the onion and ginger together to a purée. Heat the oil in a large pan until smoking. Add the garam marsala and sizzle for 30 secs, then add the onion and ginger purée, reduce the heat and slowly cook for 5 mins. Add the remaining spices, fry for 1 min, stir in the chilli and fry for another min, then add the tomatoes and a good pinch of salt and grind of pepper, and stir well. You can do this way in advance, then just throw the curry together on the night - the sauce will freeze or keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• To make the curry, melt a third of the ghee in a large pan. Cook the white fish for 2-3 mins until lightly browned, then set aside on a plate. Repeat this process with the salmon and prawns, adding another third of ghee each time. For the mussels, heat a medium-sized saucepan on a high heat. Add the mussels with 2 tbsp of water, cover tightly with a lid, and steam for 3-4 mins, shaking the pan every so often. Drain and set aside with the other seafood.
• Bring the sauce to the boil, stir the fish and mussels in gently, bring to the boil again, then remove from the heat and leave for 3-4 mins - the fish will finish cooking in the heat from the sauce. Add the coriander leaves and serve with Spiced rice and Carrot & cumin salad (see 'Goes well with' on the right of this page).

GOAN MUSSELS

Steps:

• Remove the beards, then wash the mussels well in cold water. Refresh the water and repeat until it is clear. Discard any mussels that are broken or stay open when tapped.
• Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole. Fry the onion until very lightly brown, then add the ginger, garlic, chillies, spices, a good pinch of salt and a grinding of pepper. Cook for 2-3 mins until fragrant and toasted. Pour in the coconut milk and bring to the boil, then simmer for a few mins to get everything mixed together.
• Tip the mussels into the dish, cover, turn up the heat to maximum and boil for 3-4 mins until the mussels have just opened. Scatter over the coriander sprigs and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.

CURRIED MUSSELS

Steps:

• Combine the cream, curry powder and lemon juice in a small bowl, and mix well. This step enables the curry flavor to develop.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large pot over high heat, and add the shallots, thyme and bay leaf. Stir until wilted. Add the white wine and bring to a simmer. Add the mussels, cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or just until the mussels open. Stir from time to time to assure even cooking. As soon as the mussels are opened, remove them from heat, and strain cooking liquid through a fine sieve into a bowl. Reserve 2 cups of the juice.
• Remove the top shell from each mussel and discard it, leaving the mussel meat attached to its bottom shell. Arrange decoratively on a serving platter, and keep warm.
• In a large saucepan, over medium heat, melt the remaining butter, and whisk in the flour, stirring until the mixture is smooth. Cook briefly; do not brown. Slowly add the 2 cups of reserved cooking juice, whisking constantly. Bring to a rolling boil. Add the cream-and-curry mixture, and combine well. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve. Add salt, and check for seasoning. Ladle the sauce over the mussels, and serve immediately.