Micko's Mussels

Seeing as its Good Friday, I thought I would share my dad's famous mussels recipe. I know Good Friday is meant to be about sacrifice and not eating meat but its become a bit of a seafood celebration hasn't it? Anyway, we don't need much of an excuse to pop down to Queenscliff which is about 30 minutes from our place to buy mussels and prawns. We discovered this place, Q Seafood Provedore when we were holidaying down there at the Big4 Beacon Cove caravan park last November. They are the freshest most delicious mussels I have had in a long time. (they don't even smell like fish!!)

Anyhoo...here is my dad's recipe, cooked lovingly by dynamo Nonna!

We usually buy 2 kilos of mussels which will comfortably feed about 5/6 people (4 if you're Italian) - served with linguine and/or with crusty bread!

Wash the mussels in the sink in cold water and remove the beards by pulling down as shown in the pic above. 

Get ready your chopped onion and garlic, fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, oregano and basil, chopped fresh tomoatoes (we used tinned ones today because we didn't have fresh and fresh chilli or chilli flakes if you like it (we do!)

Saute the onion/garlic first (my mum and dad are the only Italians I have ever met that don't love garlic)  and then add tomatoes, herbs and chilli.

add big splash of white wine and simmer for about 5 mins...

Throw mussels in the pot and put the lid on. Cook for about 10 mins...give the pot a couple of shakes to make sure they all get to move around. Discard any that don't open. Nonna thinks that's rubbish but I wouldn't risk it!

All opened up...yay!!

See all that gorgeous juice at the bottom...you can boil up some pasta...linguine is our favorite and serve with the juice or simply dip with crusty bread!

Nonna dynamo took them out of their shells and back in the juices today before adding the linguine...other times we just have them in a big bowl on the table and share.

Pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy!

Here's to you Micko!