Description
This vibrant Mussels with Tomatoes & Chilli recipe combines fresh mussels with a flavorful sauce made from ripe tomatoes, garlic, shallots, and a hint of chilli. The mussels are steamed to perfection in a lightly spiced tomato and white wine broth, garnished with aromatic basil leaves. It’s a quick, elegant seafood dish perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomato Sauce
- 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 100ml)
- 1 tsp tomato paste
- pinch of sugar
Mussels
- 1kg cleaned mussels
- Good handful basil leaves
Instructions
- Prepare the tomatoes: Put the tomatoes in a heatproof bowl and cover them with boiling water. Leave them for 3 minutes to loosen the skin, then drain and peel the tomatoes. Quarter the tomatoes, scoop out and discard the seeds using a teaspoon, then roughly chop the tomato flesh.
- Cook the 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. Gently fry for 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant, being careful not to brown them.
- Add liquids and simmer: Pour in the dry white wine, then add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, and seasoning (be cautious with salt as mussels are naturally salty). Stir everything well and let the mixture simmer for 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Cook the mussels: Tip the cleaned mussels into the pan and stir to coat them in the sauce. Cover the pan tightly with the lid and steam the mussels for 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through cooking to ensure even heat distribution. The mussels are done when their shells have opened.
- Serve and garnish: Discard any mussels that did not open. Divide the cooked mussels and sauce between two bowls, sprinkle with fresh basil leaves, and provide a large bowl or plate for the empty shells.
Notes
- Make sure to use only fresh, cleaned mussels and discard any with broken shells before cooking.
- Adjust the amount of chilli according to your preferred spice level.
- The dish pairs well with crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.
- Do not overcook the mussels to prevent them from becoming rubbery.
- If you prefer a richer sauce, a splash of cream can be added at the end.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: mussels, seafood, tomatoes, chilli, Mediterranean, white wine, basil, quick dinner, healthy seafood
