Mussels à la Mode de Mer
Sweet wine vanilla simmered mussels with citrusy crème anglaise.
Daily recipe · February 19, 2024
A little about this dish
Introducing a unique twist to classic French desserts by featuring Mussels, a seafood typically found in savory dishes. The mussels are simmered in sweet white wine and vanilla, creating a harmonious blend of sea and sweetness that will intrigue and delight your palate.
Ingredients (for 4)
- 24 mussels — 24 — scrubbed and de-bearded
- Dry white wine — 1 cup
- Vanilla bean — 1 — split lengthwise
- Granulated sugar — 1/2 cup
- Cream — 2 cups
- Egg yolk — 4
- Zest of one orange — 1 orange — zested
- Icing sugar — for dusting
- Fresh mint — few sprigs — for garnish
Preparation
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Step 1 — 🚿🐚🗑️Rinse the mussels under cool water, remove any beards and discard the broken shells.
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Step 2 — 🍷🍚🌱In a large pot, simmer the wine, half of the sugar and the vanilla bean.
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Step 3 — 🔥🐚⏲️Once it begins to boil, add the mussels, cover and let steam for about 5 minutes until the shells open.
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Step 4 — 🐚🆒🔪Remove mussels and let cool. Once cool, remove them from their shells keeping the half shell intact.
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Step 5 — 🥚🍥🍚In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the remaining sugar until pale yellow.
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Step 6 — 🔥🥛🥚Heat the cream on stove until hot, but not boiling. Slowly whisk into egg mixture.
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Step 7 — 🥛🍊🍲Strain the cream mix back into the pot, stir in the orange zest and cook until it thickens.
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Step 8 — 🐚🍨🍃Arrange the cooled mussels in their half shells on serving dishes. Pour the crème anglaise around mussels, dust with icing sugar and garnish with mint.
A final fox tip
Although mussels are commonly associated with savory courses, they lend the dessert a unique savory undertone that balances the sweetness of the sauce. This recipe champions the concept of 'terroir', a French term that involves matching the food with ingredients that come from the same region, leading to a harmonious flavor profile. Feel free to experiment it with other types of citrus for zest, like lemon or grapefruit, for a fresh twist!