Mussels in Tomato-Parsley Sauce Baked in Parchment

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Photo: Hans Gissinger
Servings:
6

This is a first course you can tear into: Mix mussels -- low in fat; high in nutrients, particularly vitamin B12 -- with garlic, oregano, parsley, pepper, tomatoes, olive oil, and white wine. Pour it all onto parchment, fold up, and bake until the bag billows.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds mussels, scrubbed well and beards removed

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

  • ½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano

  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes

  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

  • 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes, including juice

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • ¼ cup dry white wine

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut a sheet of parchment paper to measure 15 by 24 inches. Fold in half horizontally, and crease. Make a 1-inch fold on one open side; fold over again. Press firmly to seal. Repeat on opposite side to form a large pocket.

  2. Stir together all ingredients in a large bowl. Place parchment pocket in a roasting pan. Holding pocket up, pour in mussel mixture. Seal top by making a 1-inch fold. Fold over again; press firmly to seal. Lay pocket flat in pan.

  3. Bake mussels 20 minutes; all mussels should be open (discard any that remain closed). Serve immediately, opening packet at the table.

Cook's Notes

Bake the packet in a pan that can go right to the table, and serve the dish family style, with a loaf of crusty bread.

Variations

On "Mad Hungry," Lucinda used 1/2 cup dry white wine instead of 1/4 cup.

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