Mussels With Sherry Saffron And Paprika Food

MUSSELS WITH SHERRY, SAFFRON, AND PAPRIKA

Steps:

• Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add Sherry, tomatoes with juice, paprika, and saffron; sprinkle with salt and generous amount of pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; boil gently 3 minutes to blend flavors. Add mussels and half of parsley; cover and cook until mussels open, about 3 minutes (discard any mussels that do not open). Stir in remaining parsley. Divide mussels and juices among bowls and serve.

MUSSELS WITH TOMATOES, BASIL & SAFFRON

Steps:

• 1. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, until garlic is golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomatoes to pot and cook until almost dry, about 3 minutes. Peel 2 long strips of zest from orange (without white pith) and add to pot. Squeeze in orange's juice and stir in vermouth and saffron. Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a rapid boil.
• 2. Add mussels to pot, cover, and cook, shaking pot once or twice, until mussels begin to open, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in basil and cook until all mussels open, about 2 more minutes. Divide mussels and broth among warm bowls (discard any unopened shells) and serve immediately.

MUSSELS IN A SHERRY MARINADE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except the mussels in a very large pan. (You may want to tie the more pungent flavorings such as the chile pepper, cloves, and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth so they are easy to remove after cooking.) Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, scrub the mussels under running water, pulling off the beards. Discard any mussels that are broken or do not close when tapped on the counter.
• Stir the mussels into the hot marinade. Cover the pan and cook over high heat, stirring them once, until the mussels open, about 5 minutes. Take care not to overcook them or they will be tough. Leave them to cool in the cooking liquid.
• Transfer the mussels to a bowl, with the marinade, discarding any that have not opened. Discard the chile pepper. Cover tightly and refrigerate the mussels for 24 hours, stirring occasionally?they will be plump and absorb almost all the liquid. Let them come to room temperature before serving in bowls, discarding the seasonings in the cheesecloth.
• Alternative: Serve the mussels at once, while still piping hot. Discard the chile pepper, or the bag of seasonings if used, and taste the broth. If you find it too spicy, stir in some cream. Serve the mussels with plenty of bread.

MUSSELS IN SHERRY

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan set over a low heat and add the garlic. Cook until softened, but not coloured.
• Add the parsley, sherry, chili and seasoning and boil the liquid for 30 seconds.
• Toss in the mussels, cover with a lid and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the shells have opened.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.

MUSSELS WITH SAFFRON AND SHERRY

Steps:

• Fill a sink with cold water and put the mussels in to soak. Put saffron into a 1/4-cup measuring cup, and fill with steaming-hot water.
• Place largest pan available (6 quarts or larger) over medium heat, and add oil, onion and 1 tablespoon of parsley. Saute gently until onion is softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, and use a fine Microplane grater to grate garlic into pan. (If a Microplane grater is not available, a garlic press may be used, but the mixture should be sauteed for 1 more minute.)
• Transfer mussels to a large colander, sorting through them and discarding any that are damaged or open.
• Return the pan to medium heat, and when the onion mixture begins to sizzle, add the saffron in its water, the sherry and 1 cup hot water. Add the mussels, cover, and raise heat to high. Bring to a boil and steam until the mussels have opened, 3 to 5 minutes. Discard any mussels that do not open.
• Transfer the mussels and pan liquid to one large bowl or two smaller bowls. Sprinkle with remaining parsley. If desired, serve with crusty bread.

MUSSELS WITH PROSCIUTTO AND SHERRY

Steps:

• Over medium high heat, in a large pot with a lid, cook the onion (uncovered) and celery in the oil until the onions are soft (about three minutes).
• Add the prosciutto, wine and sherry and bring to the boil.
• Add the mussels and cover. Let boil for one minute, shaking the pan once or twice to distribute the mussels, then when all the mussels have opened (discard any which don't open) remove and serve.

MUSSELS WITH SHERRY & SAFFRON

Steps:

• In a colander, rinse the mussels with cold running water. Discard any mussels that are cracked or don't close when tapped. Grate the orange peel and juice the orange.
• In a large pot with a lid, warm the olive oil on medium heat and cook the garlic for a minute. Add the sherry, 1/2 cup of water, the orange zest and juice, saffron, salt, and pepper. Increase the heat, cover, and bring to a boil. Add the mussels, cover, and cook for 3 to 6 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the shells open. Discard any unopened mussels.
• With a slotted spoon, place the mussels in soup bowls and then ladle the broth over. Serve with plenty of crusty bread to sop up the juices.
• Variations
• Add chopped tomatoes and chopped parsley at the same time as the sherry.
• After removing the mussels from the pot, stir 1/2 cup of half-and-half or cream into the broth.
• Serving & menu ideas
• Serve with a salad such as Baby Greens with Pecans & Pears (page 206).