Mussels alla marinara are a typical and very tasty Mediterranean dish, much appreciated by many.
A humble and simple dish, traditionally prepared aboard sailors’ boats as a quick meal.
Mussels (also called “muscoli”) alla marinara are made with very few ingredients: garlic, parsley and extra virgin olive oil.
A crucial step is cleaning the mussels: removing the byssus threads and any encrustations is essential.
They are mollusks rich in protein, vitamins and minerals and contain very few calories, so they are recommended for low-calorie diets.
Inside the shell you find the mollusk, which can be bright red (female) or yellow (male). Both are considered natural flavor enhancers, giving a unique sea flavor to any seafood dish.
Ideal to serve as an appetizer.
I also recommend
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Low cost
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients for preparing mussels alla marinara
- 4 lb 7 oz mussels
- 6 cloves garlic
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1 lemon
- as needed water
Tools
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Pan
- 1 Wooden spoon
- 1 Electric cooktop
Steps to prepare mussels alla marinara
To prepare delicious mussels alla marinara, start with cleaning. Remove the byssus threads (all the filaments), especially those attached to the mollusks, and using a scouring pad or a knife remove any encrustations. Discard any that are open or broken.
Then rinse them several times under running water. I recommend doing this in a large bowl so you can see when the water becomes clear, a sign that the mussels are perfectly clean.
Once cleaned, in a nonstick pan pour a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil (about 1/4 inch) and heat it, then add the garlic cloves. Sauté over low heat for two to three minutes at most — do not let them burn, so pay close attention. Remove the garlic, add the mussels, cover the pan, increase the heat to high and cook until they have fully opened, about 5 minutes. Once opened, add freshly chopped parsley, plate and serve with lemon wedges — enjoy!
Prepared with the fantastic electric cooktop AMZCHEF. Discover the review of the AMZCHEF 5-zone glass-ceramic cooktop
Storage for mussels alla marinara
Mussels alla marinara keep in the refrigerator for one day. Fresh mussels should be stored in a bowl covered with a damp cloth or damp paper towel, always refrigerated.
I recommend serving mussels alla marinara with a squeeze of lemon.
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