Bantry Bay mussels in cider
Rope-grown West Cork mussels steamed with cider, leeks and cream
The sheltered waters of Bantry Bay in West Cork grow rope mussels that end up in pots in every harbour pub from Glengarriff to Kinsale. Here they are steamed in Irish dry cider with leek, garlic and thyme, then finished with a spoonful of cream, giving a sweet-sour, apple-scented broth for dipping brown bread. The cider contains alcohol, which mostly cooks off; for an alcohol-free version use cloudy apple juice with a teaspoon of cider vinegar. Chef's tip: the mussels must be alive when cooked, so check every one before they go in.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 ⅓ lb live mussels
- 1 oz butter
- 1 leekfinely sliced
- 2 cloves garlicsliced
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- ¾ cup dry cideror apple juice with 1 tsp cider vinegar
- ¼ cup double cream
- 2 tbsp parsleychopped
- ½ tsp black pepper
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Scrub the 3 ⅓ lb live mussels under cold water and pull off the beards. Throw away any with broken shells, and any open ones that don't close when tapped sharply.
10 minStep 2: Melt the 1 oz butter in a large pot with a lid over a medium heat. Cook the 1 leek, 2 cloves garlic and 3 sprigs fresh thyme for 5 minutes, until soft.
5 minStep 3: Turn the heat to high, add the ¾ cup dry cider and bring to a fierce boil, then tip in the mussels and cover tightly.
2 minStep 4: Steam for 4–5 minutes, shaking the pot twice, until the shells have opened. Throw away any that stay closed. A common mistake is cooking on and on waiting for the last few to open; they are dead and must be discarded.
5 minStep 5: Stir in the ¼ cup double cream, 2 tbsp parsley and ½ tsp black pepper, and serve straight away in deep bowls with the broth.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 28 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bantry Bay mussels in cider take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of leek?
- 1 onion per leek.
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