Mussels Moules Mariniere Food

MOULES FRITES - FRENCH/BELGIAN BISTRO STYLE MUSSELS AND CHIPS

Steps:

• Frites/Chips:.
• Slice the potato into thin strips (2mm x 2mm) and rinse in salted water. Heat a deep fat fryer to 325°F/160°C (preferably using sunflower or groundnut oil). Place the frites/chips in and cook for 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
• Moules/Mussels:.
• Tip the mussels into a large bowl of cold water, rinse and then drain well and pull away any 'beards'. (Fresh mussels look black and shiny and should only smell pleasantly of the deep sea - the vast majority should be tightly closed. Avoid any that smell 'fishy', look dry or are mostly open.).
• Place the chopped onion, shallot and garlic in a saucepan with the olive oil, gently sweat them over a low to medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until slightly soft.
• Add the chopped herbs, and pernod or pastis if using and mix with the onion mixture.
• Add the washed mussels to the pan and cover with dry white wine, bring slowly to the boil, then simmer gently whilst stirring. Continue until the mussels have opened - discard any that do not open, this can take between 2 to 5 minutes.
• Add the creme fraiche if using, mixing through the cooked and opened mussles. Cover until the frites/chips are cooked.
• Whilst the moules are cooking, turn up the deep fryer to 375°F/190°C and salt the frites/chips. Add the frites/chips back to the oil for around 1 minute until golden and crispy.
• Serve the moules in a deep bowl with the frites/chips on the side - providinf plenty of napkins and a large bowl for the shells.
• Note - to make the best frites/chips your uncooked frites/chips should be washed in cold water and dried thoroughly before cooking.

MOULES MARINIèRE WITH CREAM, GARLIC AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Wash the mussels under plenty of cold, running water. Discard any open ones that won't close when lightly squeezed.
• Pull out the tough, fibrous beards protruding from between the tightly closed shells and then knock off any barnacles with a large knife. Give the mussels another quick rinse to remove any little pieces of shell.
• Soften the garlic and shallots in the butter with the bouquet garni, in a large pan big enough to take all the mussels - it should only be half full.
• Add the mussels and wine or cider, turn up the heat, then cover and steam them open in their own juices for 3-4 minutes. Give the pan a good shake every now and then.
• Remove the bouquet garni, add the cream and chopped parsley and remove from the heat.
• Spoon into four large warmed bowls and serve with lots of crusty bread.

THE BEST MOULES MARINIèRES (SAILOR-STYLE MUSSELS) RECIPE

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add leeks, shallot, garlic, and bay leaves. Season lightly with salt and heavily with black pepper and cook, stirring, until vegetables are very soft but not browned, about 10 minutes.
• Increase heat to high and add cider or wine. Bring to a boil and let reduce by half, about 2 minutes. Add mussels, stir, cover, and cook, shaking pan constantly and peeking every 30 seconds to stir. As soon as all the mussels are open, transfer mussels to a bowl using tongs. Place pan lid over bowl to keep mussels warm.
• Remove from heat and whisk in remaining butter along with mayonnaise or crème fraîche (if using). Return mussels to pot, add parsley, lemon juice, and lemon zest, stir to combine, then transfer to a warm serving bowl. Serve immediately with additional mayonnaise (if using) and broiled bread.

MUSSELS MARINIERE

Steps:

• Scrub mussels. Pull off beards, the tuft of fibers that attach each mussel to it's shell, cutting them at the base with a paring knife. Discard those that do not close when you handle them and any with broken shells. Set aside.
• Combine onion, garlic, 4 tablespoons parsley, bay leaf, thyme, wine, and 2 tablespoons butter in large pot. Bring to boil. Lower heat, and cook 2 minutes. Add mussels, and cover. Cook just until shells open, 3 to 4 minutes. Do not overcook. Remove mussels from sauce, and place in bowls.
• Strain liquid, and return to pot. Add remaining butter and parsley. Heat until butter melts. Pour over mussels.

MUSSELS MARINIERE

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan,over medium heat, melt 2 table spoons of the butter.
• Add garlic, shallots, leek, thyme, lemon zest, and bay leaf. Saute until the shallots and leek are translucent, about 3 minutes.
• Add the mussels to the pan, discarding any that do not close to the touch, and pour the vermouth or white wine over them. Cover and raise the heat to high. Cook, shaking the pan with one hand and holding the lid on with the other, until the mussels have opened, 4-5 minutes. Discard any mussels that do not open. Discard the bay leaf.
• Turn off the heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the liquid in the pan. Shake the pan gently until the butter melts. Stir in the lemon juice and sprinkle generously with pepper. Sprinkle the parsley over the mussels and shake the pan again.
• When serving, divide the mussels over 4 warmed deep soup bowls. Pour the pan liquid over the mussels, dividing it equally among the bowls, and serve immediately with the toasted bread for dipping into the liquid.

MUSSELS SAILOR STYLE (MOULES MARINIERE)

Steps:

• Place mussels in bowl and cover with cold water.
• Discard any that are open or cracked.
• Scrub under cold running water and remove beards.
• Melt butter in a large pot, stir in shallots and garlic and saute gently until soft.
• Add wine and bouquet garni.
• Bring to a boil for 2 minutes.
• Add a pinch of salt and black pepper to taste.
• Add mussels and cover pot.
• Cook over high heat until mussels open.
• Remove mussels from pot with a slotted spoon, set aside (keep warm).
• Discard any mussels that did not open.
• Boil the remaining liquid (with bouquet garni) until reduced to half, then return mussels to the pan and heat through.
• Sprinkle with parsley and stir.
• Place mussels into a warmed serving dish and pour liquid over top.
• Serve.

MOULES MARINIERE WITH GARLIC HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• In a large pot melt the butter over medium flame, add shallots and garlic and saute for 5 minutes. Add fennel or celery and continue to saute for 2 minutes. Add the mussels and raise the heat to high. When mussels begin to open, add the wine, salt, pepper and bring the mixture to a boil, cover and cook until all mussels open up. Discard any unopened ones. Stir in half of the garlic butter, the parsley and the chopped fennel fronds. Serve with remaining garlic butter on the side.
• Place all in the food processor and blend for 20 seconds until well mixed, or blend in a bowl.
• Cover and place in refrigerator until ready to use.

AHOY THERE! MOULES MARINIèRES - FRENCH SAILOR'S MUSSELS

Steps:

• Place the live mussels in fresh water. Scrub and debeard the mussels (see the photos), discarding any that are open, broken or cracked.
• Fry the chopped onion and chopped garlic cloves (over medium heat) in a little butter (or oil) in the biggest saucepan you have. Add half of the finely chopped fresh herbs - I have used a mixture of parsley, oregano and tarragon. Season with black pepper, wait to season with salt to taste later.
• Add the white wine to the butter and herbs, and then tip in the freshly cleaned mussels - turn up the heat to high. Cover the pan and let the mussels steam for about 5 minutes. Shake the pan every minute or so to coat the mussels in the liquid.
• Take the pan off the heat and add the double cream or creme fraiche; then add of the remaining finely chopped herbs. Mix through thoroughly. That's it! Enjoy with crusty bread, frites and a chilled white wine -- divine!
• NB: Discard any mussels that don't open during cooking. (see photos).

MOULES MARINIERES - BELGIAN MUSSELS

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a casserole pot.
• Add onions, celery, and saute for a few minutes.
• Add the wine a bring to the boil.
• Add the mussels and place lid on pot give a good shake to mix.
• Cook until mussels have opened shaking even now and again.
• Add 1 tablespoon of butter, cream and the parsley and stir.
• Serve with crusty bread or as in Belgium with frites.

MUSSELS MARINIERE

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over high heat. Drizzle both sides of the bread with olive oil. Grill the bread, on both sides, until toasted, about 3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
• In a large saute pan or cast iron skillet, melt the butter with the shallots, herbs and mussels. Add the wine and seasonings, to taste. Cover and cook over high heat until the mussels are open. Season to taste and finish with chopped parsley. Place the grilled bread on top of the mussels and drizzle with Bearnaise Sauce.
• Bearnaise Sauce:
• 2 medium shallots, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
• 3 egg yolks
• 4 tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 pound unsalted butter, clarified
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
• In a small saucepan, combine the shallots, pepper, white wine, and vinegar. Reduce over medium heat until 1 tablespoon liquid remains.
• In a heat-resistant mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks, water, salt, and shallot mixture. Whip over hot, but not boiling, water until thick and creamy. Slowly whisk in the butter, a few drops at a time, until the sauce begins to emulsify. In a slow stream, whisk in the remaining butter until it is completely incorporated. Whisk in the tarragon. Correct seasoning to taste. Keep warm until needed.
• Yield: 1 1/2 cups
• Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, Modern French Cooking for the American Kitchen: Houghton Mifflin, 1981

MOULES MARINIèRE

Steps:

• Place the mussels, the white wine, and the garlic in a large stockpot, cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the mussels open, then cook for an additional minute. Remove from the heat and shower the mussels with black pepper. Mince the parsley and shower it over the mussels as well. Evenly divide the mussels among 4 shallow soup bowls, and pour the cooking juices over all. Serve immediately.

MUSSELS MARINIèRE

Steps:

• Clean the mussels by thoroughly scrubbing them under plenty of running water, pulling away and discarding the 'beards', the seaweed-like stringy threads. Discard any broken mussels, and any mussels that don't close tightly when you tap them.
• Heat the olive oil in a heavy pan with a tight-fitting lid. Add the shallot and garlic and cook over a medium heat until softened, but not coloured.
• Add the wine and turn up to a high heat. As the wine starts to boil, add the cleaned mussels and thyme to the pan. Turn the heat down to low.
• Put the lid on the pan and allow the mussels to steam. Cook for about 4-5 minutes, lifting the lid from time to time to check - you will know they are cooked when the shells have opened. Discard any mussels that remain closed.
• Add the double cream and cook for a further minute.
• Scatter with the chopped parsley and serve in deep bowls.

MOULES MARINIERE

Steps:

• In a large deep saute pan or pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and herb sprigs, and cook, stirring, until fragrant and the shallots are soft, about 1 minute. Add the wine, pepper, and salt and bring to a boil. Add the mussels, cover and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the mussels are opened, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and discard any mussels that have not opened. Transfer the mussels and their liquid to a large, deep serving bowl and garnish with the chopped parsley. Serve immediately with the French bread croutons for dipping.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the bread slices on a large baking sheet and brush 1 side of each slice first with the cut garlic cloves and then with the olive oil, and then lightly season with the salt and pepper. Bake until light golden brown, about 8 minutes.
• Cool slightly on the baking sheet before handling or serving.