Description
A vibrant and flavorful mussels recipe featuring ripe tomatoes, garlic, chilli, and fresh basil, steamed perfectly in white wine for a deliciously light and aromatic seafood dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 2 ripe tomatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 red or green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
- small glass dry white wine (about 100 ml)
- 1 tsp tomato paste
- pinch of sugar
- 1kg cleaned mussels
- good handful basil leaves
Instructions
- Prepare Tomatoes: Place the tomatoes in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Let them sit for 3 minutes to loosen the skin. Drain, peel, quarter, and carefully scoop out and discard the seeds using a teaspoon. Roughly chop the remaining tomato flesh.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large pan with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add the finely chopped garlic, shallot, and chilli, sautéing gently for 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Add Liquids and Seasoning: Pour in the dry white wine, then add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, and a pinch of sugar. Season lightly with salt and black pepper, remembering that mussels are naturally salty. Stir well and simmer the sauce gently for 2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Cook the Mussels: Add the cleaned mussels to the pan and stir to combine with the sauce. Cover the pan tightly and steam the mussels for 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through cooking to redistribute heat. Cook until shells have opened.
- Serve: Discard any mussels that remain closed. Divide the cooked mussels between two bowls and sprinkle with fresh basil leaves. Provide a large bowl for empty shells for easy dining.
Notes
- Ensure mussels are thoroughly cleaned and debearded before cooking.
- Do not add much salt as mussels contain natural saltiness.
- The cooking time can vary slightly depending on mussel size; discard any unopened shells after cooking.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: mussels, seafood recipe, tomatoes and chilli, white wine, basil, steamed mussels, Mediterranean seafood
