Mussels at Home

I love going to a French restaurant and seeing mussels on the menu. Serve them up with frites for dipping and I'm even more in heaven. But there are those times, especially after a long day, where all you want is the comfort of home. And what could be better than some fresh, tasty mussels with extra sauce for dipping in the comfort of your own home? Yep, got me too.

Now I know what you're thinking, but yes, cooking mussels at home is actually quite easy! Mussels are foolproof, just keep it simple. Here's one way to do so:

What you'll need...
1 bag of mussels
1/4 cup of flour
2 Tablespoons of butter
3-5 shallots, minced
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
3/4 cup of white wine
3/4 cup of cream
1 large saucepan with a lid

What to do...
Clean the mussels: Empty the bag of mussels in a large bowl, fill it with water, and add 1/4 cup of flour. Stir lightly to mix and then let sit for 30 minutes.

Drain the mussels in a colander and give them an extra rinse. Inspect each one for the following:
1) If cracked or already opened, discard.
2) If the mussel has a beard (a blackish grey string looking thing), pull it off and discard.

Melt the butter and Olive Oil in a saucepan. Add the shallots and garlic and cook to your liking.

Add the white wine and cream and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the mussels, stirring into the mixture, and turn the heat to a medium simmer.

Cover and cook for 8 minutes. Discard any mussels that do not pop open. Pour into a serving dish, or keep it casual and enjoy as is.

Serve with bread or homemade frites!