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
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 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

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 35 minutes

Style American

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: February 17, 2025

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!

Additional

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!