Grilled Mussels With Shallot Sauce Food

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH WHITE WINE, TARRAGON, SHALLOTS, BUTTER, AND GRILLED FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Sprinkle garlic with a pinch of salt and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear the garlic to a coarse paste. Heat the oil in a stockpot on the grates of the grill, add the shallots and garlic and cook until shallots soften. Add the wine, bring to a boil and stir in the mussels. Cover the pot and cook the mussels until all of them have opened, about 6 to 8 minutes, discard any that do not open.
• Remove the mussels with a slotted spoon to a large bowl. Bring the cooking liquid to a simmer and whisk in the butter. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and stir in the tarragon. Pour the mixture over the mussels and serve immediately with grilled bread.
• Brush cut side of baguette with oil, season with salt and pepper and grill, cut side down until lightly golden brown.

GRILLED MUSSELS AND CHEESY GRILLED COUNTRY BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium high. Cut country loaf into slices. Place on grill to toast one side.
• Meanwhile, cover bottom of a large straight sided and heat proof skillet with foil to protect from soot. Place pan on the grill and add all ingredients, except butter, parsley, bacon and black pepper, stirring to mix. Remove bread slices to a cookie sheet, toasted side up and grate some gruyere cheese over the slices. Return bread slices to the grill to toast the other side and melt the cheese.
• While bread slices are toasting, tint skillet loosely with foil and cover the grill, until bread slices are toasted (about 1 minute depending on grill heat. Be sure to check so bread doesn't burn).
• Open grill and remove bread slices to cookie sheet and set aside. Close grill and allow muscles to continue cooking about another 3 minutes. Remove the foil and if some have not opened, give the pot a stir and cook another 1-2 minutes.
• Remove skillet from grill and remove and discard any muscles that have not opened. Scoop remaining mussels into a large serving bowl. Return skillet with liquid to the grill, and let simmer 1-2 minutes to combine flavors. Remove from heat, swirl in butter, and pour liquid over muscles in bowl.
• Sprinkle with black pepper, crumbled bacon (if using) and parsley. Serve with toasted country bread.

MUSSELS WITH SHALLOTS AND THYME

Steps:

• Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots; sautéuntil softened, about 10 minutes. Add thyme, bay leaves, wine, clam juice and cream; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until mixture is reduced to 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Add mussels, cover and simmer until mussels open, about 7 minutes; discard any mussels that do not open. Using tongs, divide mussels among bowls. Season broth with salt and pepper. Ladle broth over mussels.

GRILLED MUSSELS WITH RED WINE AND CHORIZO

Steps:

• Heat grill over medium high heat.
• Meanwhile, heat a large saute pan over medium heat; add olive oil, shallots, garlic, and chorizo and cook, stirring frequently, until shallots are softened, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in the red wine and cook until it reduces by about half, 3to 5 minutes; remove from heat.
• Using a wire basket, place mussles on the grill until they just begin to open, then transfer to the saute pan.
• Heat the pan over high heat until the liquid boils; stir in the tomatoes, parsley, and butter.
• Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Serve immediately.

MUSSELS WITH GARLIC AND FINES HERBES

Steps:

• Clean the mussels: Scrub them well under cold running water. Debeard them, if necessary, pulling out any wiry fronds coming through the seams of the shells.
• In a large pot or deep sauté pan, combine the white wine, half the shallot, and the bay leaf. Place the mussels on top and cover with a lid. Bring to a boil over high heat to steam open the mussels, 3 to 4 minutes. You may want to give them a stir after 2 minutes to disperse the heat evenly among the mussels. When the mussels have opened (if there are a few that don't, this is an indication that they are dead or bad - discard them), transfer them to four shallow bowls.
• Strain the cooking liquid, through either a coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth, into a clean pan, add the olive oil, remaining shallot, and garlic, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the mixture slightly; it will condense to an opaque liquid. Taste. If it's too salty, add a little water. Sprinkle the herbs and spoon the sauce over the mussels. Serve promptly, with a tangy baguette torn into large pieces, which you can use to soak up the broth when you're finished with the mussels.