Smoked Mussel Soup Food

APPETIZER MUSSELS

Steps:

• In a stock pot, combine the wine, juice cocktail, garlic and pepper flakes. Bring to a boil and add mussels.
• Cover and continue to boil for about 4 to 6 minutes or until all the mussels have opened. Discard any mussels that haven't opened.
• Remove mussels from liquid and keep warm. Pour off liquid to leave about 1 cup. Try not to discard the garlic. Boil the 1 cup of liquid until it's reduced to about 3/4 of a cup.
• Add butter and stir until butter has melted and sauce has thickened slightly. Serve mussels with sauce.

PASTA WITH SMOKED MUSSELS AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Bring large pot of water to a boil and boil pasta. Meanwhile prepare the ingredients: Coarsely chopping the mussels, sardines, capers and parsley and adding them to the bottom of a mixing bowl. Add lemon juice and olive oil and season to taste with salt and crushed red pepper.
• When pasta is done, drain and shake dry and add to the bowl; toss with scallions, reserving some for garnish. Serve warm.
• Refresh leftovers with vinaigrette.

SMOKED MUSSEL SPREAD

Steps:

• In bowl, mash cream cheese with fork.
• Add whipping cream, lemon juice, horseradish, salt and pepper; mash with fork until well combined.
• Add mussels and their liquid; mash with fork to combine.
• Serve with crackers or toasted baguettes.

SMOKED MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, mix the chicken soup, mussel paste, tomato, milk and water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat.
• Combine the dry herbs, flour and cream. Add to the soup mixture and stir over low heat until hot, but not boiling.
• Remove from heat and add the sherry and sugar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve in bowls with slices of crusty bread.

MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a medium pot, combine the mussels, wine, water, lemon juice, bay leaf, and crab boil, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until the mussels have opened, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and discard any unopened mussels. Strain the cooking liquid through a strainer lined with cheesecloth into a clean container. Remove the mussels from the shells and set aside. Discard the shells.
• In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium heat until just golden and starting to crisp, about 3 minutes. Add the onions and leeks, and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the bay leaves and thyme, and stir well. Add the strained mussel cooking liquid, the potatoes, milk, and cream and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Add the cooked mussels and simmer until warmed through. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
• Meanwhile, place the bread slices on a baking sheet and rub on both sides with the garlic cloves. Bake until light golden brown, turning once, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with the parsley, and serve with the garlic croutons.