A deep bowl filled with creamy, off-white chowder and plump, open mussels peeking through. Pops of color come from the soft orange carrots, golden potatoes and bright green herbs scattered on top, with a golden-crisp piece of garlic bread leaning on the side of the bowl.

Rustic American Mussel Chowder

Name: Rustic American Mussel Chowder
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 pounds cleaned and debearded mussels cleaned and debearded; 2 peeled and diced carrots peeled and diced; 3 Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and diced; 2 cleaned and diced leeks cleaned and diced; 1.5 cups heavy cream; 1.5 cups fish stock; 1 cup dry white wine; 2 garlic cloves minced; 1 tablespoon thyme minced; 2 tablespoons parsley chopped; to serve bread; 1.5 tablespoons olive oil; to taste salt and pepper

A hearty, seasonal, comforting mussel chowder.

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 35 minutes

Style American

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily recipe · February 17, 2025

A little about this dish

This is a twist on the classic American chowder, providing a hearty, warming fix for the winter weather. The mussels, with their briny sweetness, lend an oceanic depth to this comforting dish, while the hearty root vegetables put a rustic, seasonal spin on things.

Ingredients (for 4)

Cleaned and debearded mussels — 3 pounds — cleaned and debearded
Peeled and diced carrots — 2 — peeled and diced
Yukon gold potatoes — 3 — peeled and diced
Cleaned and diced leeks — 2 — cleaned and diced
Heavy cream — 1.5 cups
Fish stock — 1.5 cups
Dry white wine — 1 cup
Garlic cloves — 2 — minced
Thyme — 1 tablespoon — minced
Parsley — 2 tablespoons — chopped
Bread — to serve
Olive oil — 1.5 tablespoons
Salt and pepper — to taste

Preparation

Step 1 — 🥘🔥🥕🥔

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced carrots, leeks, and potatoes and let them cook until they soften.
Step 2 — 🌿🧄🥘

Add minced garlic and thyme to the pot, stirring it in with the cooked veggies until the mixture becomes fragrant.
Step 3 — 🍷🐟🥘

Pour in the dry white wine, letting it boil, then add the fish stock.
Step 4 — 🥘🔝🦪

Place the cleaned mussels into the pot, cover, and let them cook until they all open up. Once cooked, remove them with a slotted spoon and set them aside.
Step 5 — 🥛🌿🧂🌶️

Stir heavy cream and chopped parsley into the pot, seasoning everything with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 6 — 🥘🦪🔄

Return the set-aside mussels back into the pot, stirring them in to combine with the rest of the stew.
Step 7 — 🍽️🔥🥖

Serve your cream mussel stew hot, garnished with some extra parsley. Don't forget to add a side of crispy garlic bread for dipping!

A final fox tip

This is a simply delicious and comforting dish that's perfect for a cozy dinner at home. Children can participate by cleaning the mussels, and for a fun twist, add some spicy chorizo or smoky bacon to the mix. Enjoy with a chilled glass of white wine for the grown-ups!