Skip to main content

Steamed Mussels with Orange, Fennel, and Garlic

4.0

(6)

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 4 as an hors d'oeuvre

Ingredients

1 navel orange
2 large garlic cloves, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 shallots, chopped fine (about 1/3 cup)
1/2 cup finely chopped fennel bulb (sometimes called anise)
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 pound mussels (preferably cultivated), scrubbed well and beards pulled off
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    With a vegetable peeler remove three 3-by-1/2-inch strips orange zest. Cut remaining peel and pith from orange with a sharp knife and discard. Cut out fruit sections from between membranes, discarding membranes, and finely chop enough fruit to measure 1/3 cup, reserving remaining fruit for another use.

    Step 2

    In a large saucepan cook garlic paste, shallots, chopped fennel, and fennel seeds in butter over moderate heat, stirring, until chopped fennel is softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in wine and zest and boil 1 minute. Add broth and return to a boil. Add mussels and cook, covered with a tight-fitting lid, over high heat, checking them every minute, 3 to 8 minutes, transferring them as they open with a slotted spoon to a serving bowl. (Discard any mussels that are unopened after 8 minutes.)

    Step 3

    Stir into broth chopped orange, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste and spoon over mussels.

Read More
Using two entire lemons—pith, skin, and all—cranks up the citrus flavor in this classic dessert.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Like Greek lemon potatoes and gochujang chicken stir-fry.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
You don’t need melted chocolate to make a good brownie