Steamed Mussels with Gremolata and Olive Toasts

, from Issue #12. August, 2015
Photography by Minka Firth.
Steamed Mussels with Gremolata and Olive Toasts

Serves: 4-6

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, sliced
3 kilos mussels
1 bay leaf
3 parsley stalks
pinch of saffron
1 cup dry white wine

Gremolata
¼ cup chopped mint, basil or flat leaf parsley
fine zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Olive Toasts
6 long slices of ciabatta
2 cloves garlic, peeled
100 grams green olive paste, pesto or tapenade

METHOD

Mussels: Rinse the mussels in cold water and scrape off any barnacles with a knife. Pull off the beard with a sharp downwards tug.

Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan and cook the onions and garlic until soft. Increase the heat and add the bay leaf, parsley stalks, saffron, white wine and the mussels. Stir then cover and cook for a few minutes, shaking the pan occasionally. Take off the lid and remove the mussels that have opened. Put the lid back on and steam until the remaining mussels have opened. Discard any that don’t open. Pile the mussels in a serving bowl and pour over the juices.

Gremolata: Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and season to taste.

Olive toasts: Grill the bread until golden. Rub one side with a cut piece of garlic. Spread with olive paste and cut each piece in half on the diagonal.

To serve: Sprinkle the gremolata over the mussels and tuck in the pieces of toast.