Ingredients
- 24 live mussels (debearded and cleaned)
- 150mls olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 onion, roughly chopped
- 3 ripe Roma tomatoes, chopped (or tinned Roma tomatoes)
- 250mls white wine
- 1 Tbsp basil pesto
- 3 rashers streaky bacon (rind removed)
- 150gms crumbly feta
- 1 baguette (French stick)
- 2 Tbsp fresh basil, roughly chopped (saving a small amount for garnish)
- 1 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley, roughly chopped (saving a small amount for garnish)
- Flaky sea salt to taste
- Fresh cracked black pepper
Recipe credit: Aquaculture NZ – www.aquaculture.org.nz
Method
- Prepare Baguette:
- Portion the baguette and rub each portion with minced garlic.
- Brush with olive oil.
- Lightly toast the baguette and keep it warm to serve with the mussels.
- Prepare Bacon and Onion Mixture:
- In a heavy-based saucepan, sauté the roughly chopped bacon in olive oil until crispy.
- Add onions and minced garlic to the bacon oil, sauté until soft and transparent.
- Prepare Tomato Sauce:
- Add half of the white wine and chopped tomatoes to the saucepan.
- Allow the sauce to come to a boil, then simmer for approximately 8-10 minutes to reduce the sauce.
- Finish Tomato Sauce:
- Season the sauce to taste and stir in the basil pesto.
- Remove the sauce from the pot and store it in a suitable container.
- Cook Mussels:
- Wash and reuse the heavy-based saucepan. Place it on the heat with a lid until very hot.
- Place the cleaned mussels into the pot with the remaining white wine, cover with the lid, and allow the mussels to steam open. Discard any unopened mussels.
- Combine Mussels with Tomato Sauce:
- Return the tomato sauce to the saucepan with the mussels, allowing the sauce to come back up to a boil.
- Correct the seasoning, and just before serving, add the fresh herbs.
- Serve:
- Portion the mussels into wide pasta bowls.
- Divide the tomato sauce between all the bowls.
- Crumble the feta over the mussels and garnish with the remaining herbs.
- Serve with warm baguette.
Enjoy your delightful Mussels with Bacon, Feta, and Tomato Sauce!
