Mussels Congolaise Food

MUSSELS CONGOLAISE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add fennel, coriander and cumin seeds and toast lightly, 30 seconds, then immediately add shallot and sauté until tender and translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then add tomato paste, chipotle and saffron. Cook until fragrant, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.
• Stir in wine and scrape any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, then stir in coconut milk and stock. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low and cook until reduced and flavors have blended, about 6-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Increase heat to medium, then add mussels and stir to coat in sauce. Cover Dutch oven and cook until mussels have opened, about 5-7 minutes (discarding any unopened shells.)
• Stir in lime juice and sprinkle with parsley and lemon wedges. Serve immediately with warm bread and extra lime wedges.

GRILLED PAELLA WITH CHICKEN, CHORIZO, SHRIMP AND MUSSELS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium on one side and medium high on the other side. If using charcoal, stack the briquettes so they are layered at least halfway up to the grates.
• Remove 4 wide strips of zest from the lemons, then cut the lemons in half and set aside. Combine the chicken broth, lemon zest strips and the saffron in a medium saucepan. Peel the shrimp, leaving the tails intact, then add the shells to the saucepan. Devein the shrimp, place in a bowl, season with salt and pepper and refrigerate until ready to grill. Heat the broth mixture over medium-low heat until steaming; cook 25 to 30 minutes, reducing the heat as needed if the broth starts to simmer. Strain into a large measuring cup or heatproof container.
• Meanwhile, combine the bell pepper, onion, tomatoes and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Put the chicken in a large bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and the smoked paprika.
• Grill the lemon halves and chicken over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until the lemon halves are charred, 3 to 5 minutes, and the chicken skin is golden brown and crisp, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove to a plate.
• Meanwhile, set a 15-inch paella pan on the grill grates over medium heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the chorizo and cook, flipping once, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato mixture, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the juices have almost evaporated, about 10 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the liquid is evaporated, 3 to 4 more minutes. Add the rice and a big pinch of salt; stir to combine and toast lightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the strained broth and stir to combine. Close the grill and cook without stirring, rotating the pan 180 degrees halfway through, until the rice is plumped and about half of the liquid is absorbed, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Stir in the olives and peas. Nestle the chicken, shrimp and mussels in the rice. Grill, covered and rotating the pan 180 degrees halfway through, until the shrimp and chicken are cooked through and the mussels have opened, 10 to 20 more minutes (discard any mussels that do not open).
• Remove the paella from the grill and top with the parsley. Serve with the grilled lemon halves.

MUSSELS CONGOLAISE

Steps:

• Clean the mussels and remove the "beard".
• Heat a sauce pot on medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and sauté the red onion, garlic, and all the ground spices for about a minute.
• Add mussels, coconut milk, roma tomatoes, chipotle chiles, lemon, and lime juice to the pot. Some salt to taste only, because the mussels are salted.
• Cover the pot with a lid and simmer the mussels until they have opened, but watching carefully to not over cook them. Decorate with fresh cilantro on top and serve.
• For the additional Ingredients: add the white wine together with the mussels without chipotle, and add the celery on top of the mussels and cook until opened.
• Important Note: rinse the wild mussels several times but do not let them sit in water, as freshwater will kill them.

MUSSELS WITH CHORIZO , TOMATO AND WINE

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, cook the chorizo until brown over medium-high heat, about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan.
• Add butter and when melted, add the onions, shallot, fennel seeds, and pepper. Cook, stirring, until veggies are tender.
• Add the garlic and tomatoes, and cook, stirring, for 2minute.
• Add mussels to pan. Add the wine, 1/4 cup cream, and parsley, and bring to a boil. Stir mussels, cover, and cook until the shells have opened, about 6-8 minutes.
• Remove mussels from pan to serving bowls. Discard any shells that do not open.
• In pan with juice, bring to a boil. Allow to boil for 3 minutes. Add sausage and cream. Bring to boil for 1 minute. Pour juice over mussels.
• Serve immediately with hot French bread for dipping.