Steamed Mussels With Sofrito Food

SIMPLE STEAMED MUSSELS

Steps:

• Place a cast-iron enameled Dutch oven over high heat and add the olive oil. Add the onions, garlic and butter and briefly cook until the onion softens, 2 to 3 minutes, then stir in the chili flakes. Add the mussels, Chardonnay and chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until all of the mussels have opened, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the lid then add the parsley.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium heat. Brush the bread slices with olive oil on both sides. Grill until toasted on both sides, 30 seconds per side.
• Serve the mussels with a rustic piece of grilled bread.

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH GARLIC AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Heat broiler. Put olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper and let sizzle for 30 seconds without browning. Add the mussels, stir to coat and increase heat to high. Add the wine or water, and put on lid. After 2 minutes, give the mussels a stir, then replace lid and continue cooking until all mussels have opened, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Paint cut sides of the baguette pieces with oil and place cut side up under broiler to toast. Rub toasts with the remaining garlic cloves.
• Stir the chopped parsley into the mussels, then ladle mussels and broth into bowls. Serve with the garlic toasts.

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH SOFRITO

Steps:

• Scrub mussels well and remove beards. Cut bell peppers into 1/2-inch pieces and transfer half to a blender, reserving remaining half in a bowl. Chop onion and garlic. Add onion, garlic, cilantro, oregano, and cumin to blender and puree until smooth.
• In a 4-quart kettle heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook puree, stirring, 2 minutes. Add mussels, reserved bell peppers, wine, and broth and simmer, covered, 4 to 8 minutes, checking mussels occasionally after 4 minutes and transferring them as they open to a bowl. (Discard any unopened mussels after 8 minutes.) Season sauce with orange juice and salt and pepper. Serve mussels with sauce and bread.