Many people know how to eat and enjoy mussels, but few can say they know how to cook mussels. This popular seafood is enjoyed in a variety of preparations; however, steaming mussels seems to be the most popular among seafood lovers. While it may seem like a daunting task, cooking mussels is actually quite simple. Follow a few techniques and you will be a master mussel chef in no time.
The first step of cooking mussels involves cleaning and preparation. Mussels typically contain a good amount of sand and grit. Obviously, sand and grit need to be cleared away, as they do not taste good mixed in with your dish. Scrub the mussels with a stiff brush to remove any barnacles or debris. If your mussel has a "beard", or a rough piece of fiber that is dangling from the shell opening, simply tug it away or cut it with a sharp knife.
Rinse the mussels thoroughly under water and wash away any remaining debris. However, avoid soaking the mussels, as fresh water can kill them. Inspect the mussels thoroughly. Throw away any mussels with broken shells or shells that are open and do not close when tapped. It is important when serving mussels to only use the freshest available. Not using very fresh mussels can lead to an unappetizing dish, or even illness in those who eat them.
If you don't know how to cook mussels or have never tried before, the easiest cooking method is to steam them. Steaming mussels allows the mussels to release their tasty juices and meld the sea-friendly flavors into the rest of the dish. Steaming is a gentle approach to cooking the mussels and allows the true flavor of the seafood to come out. Other preparations often mask the flavor of the mussels. Once you have steamed the mussels, you can eat them in the shell or remove the meat from the shells and add them to a dish.
How to Cook Mussels by Steaming:
1. Pour a cup or two of white wine or water into a large pot. Mussels do not require much liquid to steam. In fact, the taste of the mussel juices gets lost if there is too much steaming liquid. Because the flavor of mussels is so subtle, you want to do all you can to allow that flavor to take center stage.
2. Add a pound of cleaned mussels to the pot and cover with a lid. Bring the liquid to a boil. When you see steam escaping from the sides, turn the heat down so that the liquid simmers, which is a light bubbling.
3. Shake the pot intermittently during the process to spread the liquid around and to ensure that each mussel is cooked equally.
4. Pay close attention to the mussels. After about five minutes of simmering, the mussels will start to open - this means the mussels have finished cooking. Just like most seafood, it doesn't take long to cook mussels and if they are overcooked, they become rubbery and loose their delicate flavor.
5. Remove each mussel as it starts to open. Do not wait for all of the mussels to finish cooking before you remove them, as this can lead to overcooked seafood. Discard any mussels that never opened.
To enjoy mussels in their purest form, pour the steaming broth from the pot over the mussels, and eat them out of their shell.
You can also add extra flavor and texture to the mussels by baking them after they are gently steamed. Remove the meat from the shells and place it on a baking sheet. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the mussels, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, chopped garlic and parsley. Use your hands to rub the seasonings over the mussels so that they are evenly dispersed. Cover the mussels in dry Italian breadcrumbs and bake them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about ten minutes, or until they become golden brown. Enjoy them as is, or in pasta that has been mixed with garlic, olive oil and fresh herbs.
Once you know how to cook mussels you can try a variety of different preparation methods. Mussels are very versatile and are a quick and easy way to add a little gourmet seafood to your diet.
